Chapter 19

I come out of my self-inflicted temper and walk back to sit on the couch in tired defeat. Mico comes and sits at one side of me and places his hands on his knees as he evaluates me more closely.

“You don’t look well, and this place is hardly the Hilton.” He nudges my shoulder with his, and I smile softly, fully aware of how things are. I am amazed by how quickly my insides are returning to normal, and the effects of one smouldering Carrero in the corner are wearing off now I am over the worst shock. I’m still not repentant over throwing things at him; I’m sorry I only hit him once. I’m still smarting, but it’s hard to stay enraged and high-octane when your body gives up on you.

I think I am in dazed shock at his presence, though it doesn’t really feel like he is here. This is a weird dream after months of sleeping.

“You don’t have to tell me that,” I respond quietly, fully aware that this is barely better than sleeping under a bridge right now and freeze when I cat