I sighed and leaned against the wall in the hallway. I hadn’t thought things through properly when I’d asked Tiny to bring him here.
“She’s here under my protection. Just mine,” I said, making sure he understood that no one else was to know about it, not even Benny or The Family. I added, “She witnessed something, and I’m hiding her out here until it’s safe. That’s all.” That was far from all, and he knew it.
He pulled a small notepad and pen from his pocket. “So when you say she’s hiding out… does she get any sunlight? Fresh air?”
I shook my head as I stared down at the floor. “Nothing.”
“Food?”
“Of course I feed her. I’m not—”
“What kind of meals is she having?”
I shrugged. “Takeout… leftover takeout.” And even as the words left my mouth I knew it wasn’t good enough. I should’ve been taking better care of her.
“Are you… I mean is she… are you… sexually active?”
“What? No.”
“So you’re not having relations?”
“No.”
“Is there a chance she could be pregnant?”
I opened my mouth, the word no on the tip of my tongue. But then I realized… I had no clue what she was doing before I found her, or how far Pauly went. “I don’t think so. She’s had her period, and we haven’t done anything.”
Polizi scribbled a few notes and replaced the notepad and pen back in his pocket. “It’s not always a sign of a negative pregnancy result. I guess that’s something we should rule out.”
I nodded, though the thought of her being with someone like that had bile rising to my throat. I didn’t even want to think about the wrath of what would happen if Pauly or PJ had anything to do with it. I’d kill PJ. Daylight. Cold blood. Bare hands. I wouldn’t give a fuck.
I walked in after the doc and resumed my position on the bed, my shoulders tense and my fists balled. “Nate?” she whispered, but I couldn’t look at her.
If this was her fate then fuck it all to hell.
“I’ll be able to do the blood and urine tests here. The results may take longer than usual due to your circumstance,” Polizi told her. “But I think it’s best we rule out one possibility while I’m here. Bailey, is there any way you could be pregnant?”
I saw Tiny step forward, Polizi step back. It felt like a vice had surrounded my chest, squeezing the air out of me while my head pounded.
She was taking too long to answer.
Why the fuck wasn’t she answering?
Finally, I got the nerve to face her.
She was watching me, a perfect frown on her beautiful face. “No,” she whispered. “I’m still a virgin.”
*
The doc took the tests he needed, assuring her the entire time that it would in no way put her in danger. Tiny stayed quiet, his back pressed against the corner of the room. But his eyebrows were drawn, watching me intently. Not just me… but me with Bailey.
Polizi’s voice pulled me out of my daze. “I’ll be back tomorrow to check on you,” he said, zipping his bag closed. “Have lots of water, and have Nate close in case it gets worse.” He turned to me. “A word?”
I nodded and walked him to the front door.
His voice was a quiet murmur when he asked, “How are you holding up?”
“Fine,” I lied.
“It’s a lot to take on. All of this. Especially in your condition.”
“I said I’m fine,” I clipped.
He pressed his lips tight and nodded once. “And your meds? Do you need another script?”
I rubbed my jaw as I looked down the hallway to Bailey’s closed door. “Yeah. I’m low.”
“I’ll bring it by tomorrow when I check in on her. Keep an eye on your stress level, Nate. It’s not good for your heart.”
“I’m fine,” I said for the third time.
“Ready?” Tiny called out, approaching us.
Polizi nodded and gave me one last look before opening the door and walking toward the car.
Tiny waited until Polizi was out of earshot before saying, “Take the day off tomorrow. I’ll handle everything. The day after—you and I need to talk.”
I knew the questions were there, but he’d wait. He knew better than to bring them up during such a time. But there was no possible way he could tell how I truly felt: Bailey had become my drug.
My addiction.
My escape.
My salvation.
My curious fascination turned obsessive infatuation.
15
Bailey
I woke up the next morning to Nate sitting in a chair on the side of the bed, his elbows resting on his knees and his hands clasped in front of him. His eyes were downcast, focused on his thumbs circling each other.
It was the same position he was in when I fell asleep. “Have you been here the entire time?” I asked.
His eyes met mine. “Yes.”
“Why?”
He ignored my question and stood up. “Do you think you can eat?”
I nodded.
“I’ll bring you some food.”