Page 68 of Silver Sinner

"Pierce…" Glancing around, warmth rushes up my throat and tears sting behind my eyes, "I don't know what to say."

"Tell me you like it," he murmurs, then his brow lifts. "But only if you do, because if you don't, I can bring the team back and we can build something that you do like. There's no pressure or expectation here for you to like it. I just thought…" A dusting of pink suddenly rises across his cheeks as he straightens up. "I thought you deserved it and after what happened, walking into a place that was different might be easier to handle."

He really thinks of everything, doesn't he? I wander the lounge, breathing in the hints of fresh paint and brand new fabric, until I've done a full loop and I'm back in front of him.

"This is beautiful. And so thoughtful. And it must have been insanely expensive. Pierce, I have no way to pay you back for this."

"You don't have to."

"Pierce—"

He steps forward and lightly grasps my shoulders. "You need this. And I care about you, Layla. Deeply. If I haven't made that clear by now, then that's my fault, because I do. What you went through is beyond horrific and I will do everything I can to help you and Maddie overcome this. Speaking of—“ He drops his hand and rummages into one of his pockets, then pulls out a small card. "This is a therapist I've hired for Maddie. I figured she might need someone to talk to. You can give them a call and pick times that work for both of you and, if you need, they can see you too."

Maybe I died in that kitchen.

This has to be some kind of dream. There's no way he's standing there, telling me that everything is taken care of just because he likes me. I stare at the card and then glance up at him.

"There's no way my service at the diner is worth all of this."

"Maybe not," he chuckles softly. "But you are worth it."

Unable to think of the right words, I step into his space and cup his jaw with both hands. The fuzz of his facial hair tickles my palms and then my chin as I draw him down for a slow, deep kiss that sends my stomach fluttering with knots and my head spinning. Pierce's arms wind around my body and he pulls me close, but allows me to remain in control of the kiss. It's the sweetest way I can say thank you and show him I mean it, a kiss that would lead to so much more.

If his phone hadn't rung.

"I'm sorry," Pierce murmurs against my lips. "I have to get that."

We break apart and he kisses the tip of my nose, then delves into his pocket for his phone. Whatever he reads there draws a deep frown across his face, but it's gone just as quickly as it appears.

"I'm so sorry, darling, but I have work to tend to. I'll leave someone here to watch the place and keep an eye on things."

My eyes widen. "You don't need to do that!"

"Then consider it for my own peace of mind," Pierce replies. He leans down and captures my lips in another slow kiss. "I'll call you as soon as I can."

Then he's gone, and he takes the last walls I'd built between myself and the truth. My apartment grows cold and dark, with none of the regular life I'm used to. It's not Pierce's fault—his attempts to change the place really are beautiful and Maddie is overjoyed with her new room, complete with an entire zoo of animals painted across one wall.

But everything reminds me of Amy.

I can't go into the kitchen for fear that somehow her body is still in there, as if no one else will be able to see it except me. When Maddie gets hungry, I order pizza and tell them to leave it at the door. As much as I want to wallow, Maddie does keep me sane for a few hours and after some searching, we locate some homework she's behind on. While she busies herself with that, I call the school and try to think up some excuse as it rings.

"Afternoon," the receptionist says, her voice bitter. "How can I help?"

"Hi there, this is Layla Cross. I'm calling about my daughter Madeline, and the reason she was absent last week?"

"Layla… oh, Maddie!" The receptionist's tone changes immediately. "Don't you worry, it's all been taken care of. A home invasion is a terrifying thing and we're just glad the two of you are alright. There's a note here stating that Maddie won't be back until she's been evaluated by a therapist. Such a good idea. Kids can hold onto the strangest things from these incidents. In order to keep Maddie up to date with her class, we'll email you some packets to go through with her as you can."

"Oh… okay. Okay, thank you."

"Take care!" The line goes dead and I stare down at my phone, confused. I never called them. Did Pierce? Would he go that far to make sure things were taken care of? While I mull over my confusion, I call my work, but I'm met with the same situation; they already know what happened and are extremely understanding about my absences.

It has to be Pierce. And he must have worked some kind of magic, because I distinctly remember my manager giving me shit when I took a single day off for a flu.

He really did think of everything. My apartment. Maddie's school. My work.

How does he have this kind of power? A man in real estate shouldn't have this much sway and yet, he moves like he has control over everything and everyone. Once again, in the back of my mind, that little voice creeps up with the truth I refuse to acknowledge.

He's not in real estate. He's not even in legitimate business. No normal person has this kind of power.