Page 86 of Her Hidden Smile

“Jesus, not this shit again. Bitch, fix me something to eat.”

I screamed when he yanked my arm and tried to get me to my feet. I wilted to the ground in front of him.

“What is wrong with you? Get on your feet and cook something.”

“Can’t.” My voice sounded croaky. I hadn’t had water in I don’t know how long and I was thirsty.

I really couldn’t. I’d been on the floor too long. My one arm was useless, and I would only be able to stand if I was leaning against something.

“I should just kill you now.”

“Food in the freezer,” I mumbled.

“What?”

“Chicken tortillas are in the freezer. Just microwave.”

“I don’t want some frozen food dinners,” he whined.

“I made. Homemade. They’re good. Made for Renzo.”

He crouched down in front of me, his gun hanging loosely from his fingers. I wanted to lunge for it, but I didn’t have the strength.

“It’s breakfast time. I want breakfast.”

“There are some biscuits I froze for Renzo in the freezer.”

“Renzo? Is that the guy who abandoned you? The one who got sick of you?”

I forced back tears and nodded.

“I will never abandon Lisa. I’m her savior.”

Oh yeah. Lisa. Must save Lisa.

“I have a bad hip injury. If you could get me a pain pill, I could make eggs if you like.”

“Always with the excuses.”

My gut churned. His words hit me like little missiles.

The nerve pain hit and I moaned.

“What a diva. Where are your pain pills?”

“My nightstand.”

My cleaned-out nightstand with no romance books or sex toys.

He left me and came back with my bottle of pills. “The bottle says one to two, but you look pathetic. Take three.”

“I can’t. Only two. If I take three, I’ll fall asleep and won’t be able to fix you breakfast.”

“Fine. Two.” He poured some into his hand and handed me two. Then he swallowed the rest.

Maybe I would get lucky and he’d O.D.

“I need water,” I told him.