I’m naturally thin, tall and lanky. Now I just look ill.

A cough at the bathroom door jerks me out of my head and into the present. Nox stands there, eyes fixed on my ribs. My neck flames and I shove my tank down over my belly. Then I remember I’m fuming. How dare he remove my clothes! Opening my mouth, I start, “You better have a good reason-”

My argument dies on my lips as he holds out a hand. A shiny black object sits in his palm.

Suddenly frozen, all I can do is openly stare at the cell phone. My head spins. Placing my shaking hands over my eyes, my chest heaves with heavy breaths. Bending at the waist over the bathroom sink, a large hand rubs my back gently.

Nox asks, “You okay?”

Unable to speak, I nod yes while my head screams no. He walks back out the door and I hear him say, “Sorry, Ciaran, she’s not feeling too well. She had a bad day. Maybe we’ll try again tomorrow.”

Ciaran? As in my dad, Ciaran?

Energy magically restored, I run out of the bathroom, almost sliding on the tiles. Coming up behind Nox, I snatch the phone out of his hand and place the cell to my ear. Voice shaking, I ask quietly, “Dad?”

“Delilah! Oh, my sweet girl. You’re okay?” His unsteady voice matches mine shake for shake.

That’s all it takes. My heart soars. Relief settles me. And the floodgates open. Tears stream down my face as I turn to Nox. Our eyes meet. Sobbing silently, I mouth ‘thank you.” And I mean it. I’d do anything he asked right now.

“I’m fine, really. Just a little woozy today.” I lie.

Dad sniffs, coughs, and steadies his voice. “Good. That’s good. Nox is the best at what he does and he’ll keep ye safe, darlin’. I-” He clears his throat. “I’m sorry, Delilah. So sorry. I never meant for ye to find out this way. I know I should’ve told ye. But it was hard for me. I’m your Da, meant to protect ye meself.”

Stomach coiling with tension, I push past it and tell my father, “Don’t do that. You did what you could and when you knew you couldn’t, you got help. That’s what a good father does. You’re a good father. The best.”

“You’ve been good then? No tricks?” I hear his smile through the phone.

“Ahh…” Is all I can muster and my dad bursts into laughter. Hearing him laugh makes me chuckle too.

Dad tuts, “Never could lie well, Lily girl.” He never calls me Lily.

An awkward moment of silence passes. I ask, “How’s mom? And Terah? Where are you guys?”

A voice behind me makes me jump. “Time’s up.” Spinning around, I feel myself begin to hyperventilate again. I beg, “Nox, please, just a few more minutes. Please.” I’m about to throw myself to my knees to show him just how much I need this.

Searching my face, he quickly checks his watch. “Two minutes. That’s all.”

Placing the phone back to my ear, my father says dejectedly, “Time’s up? Already?”

Talking quick as I can, I almost bark, “We have two minutes. Go, go, go!”

Dad chuckles but speaks quickly, “Mom is okay; ye know how she is. Always a glass half full with her. She misses ye terribly. And Terah…well, love, I don’t know where she is. She was taken when ye were. I know she’s safe, but that’s all. I don’t know where either of ye are, but I get daily updates from Nox and Mitch. And as long as ye’re both protected, I’ll deal with the lack of communication.”

My dad has a way of making you feel like there’s hope in the darkest of situations. I love him so much. I blurt out unexpectedly, “I love you so much, Dad. Tell Mom I love her, too.”

His voice catches, “Love ye more, girlie. I’d do anything to keep you safe.”

A presence approaches from behind and the hairs on the back of my neck stand on end. Knowing my time is up, I choke on a sob, “So, this Nox dude is the real deal. You hired him and he’s meant to protect me?”

Dad replies firmly, “Whatever ye do, listen to Nox. He’s only got yer best interests at heart. I swear it.”

My head hangs, tears fall to the floor and I whisper, “I wanna come home, Daddy.”

Before he can answer, the phone is tugged out of my palm and I’m officially disconnected again. From my family. My life. From everything I love.

My brain tells me to appreciate the few minutes I spent talking with my father, but my heart is bitter and wins out. Anger seeps through me and I spin back to Nox. He meets me glare for glare. “Don’t even think about it, Lily.”

What?

“Not blind, babe. You’re about a second away from losing it, at me.”

“Damn right. You couldn’t even give us a few more minutes?”

Nox opens his mouth, but shuts it just as quick. His icy-blue eyes flash and his jaw steels as he bites his tongue. Without a word, he walks away from me, leaving me feeling twice as bitter and lonely as hell. He mutters under his breath, “Can’t fuckin’ win.”

I’m an immature selfish brat.

The anger dissipates and remorse fills me. As he reaches the door frame, I call out, “I’m sorry.”

His body jerks as he stops suddenly. He doesn’t turn to me. Just stays in the door frame allowing me to go on.

I confess quietly, “This is hard for me, Nox. You can’t possibly know how hard this is for me. Finding out someone wants to kill me for no reason at all. I-” Sitting on the bed, I breathe deeply and try again. “My life consists of two things right now. Being depressed and being paranoid. That’s it.” I bark a laugh, “What kind of life is that?”

With his back to me, he raises his strong arms and holds the top of the doorframe. And I almost gasp. The move has made him look like a fallen angel. The dark room graced with the bright silhouette of a solid male body. Beautifully dark and mysterious.

Strong. Safe. Secure.

Those are the words that flood my mind.

What the mothertruck?

My heart beats faster and a flush rises up my neck. I shouldn’t be thinking the things I’m thinking. Needing to break the spell, I utter, “So I’m pretty much freaking myself out with images of my impending death and I was hoping that you’d- I don’t know- you’d reassure me or some shit.”

Not hesitating for a second, Nox turns and strides over to the bed, right in front of me. I crane my head to look up into his face.

Sheer determination. “You are not going to die.”

I reply breathily, “What makes you so sure?”

His lip tilts at the corner as he says, “There’s a reason I’m cocky, princess.” Then he smiles. Not a smirk or a grin. A gleaming teeth, megawatt smile.

And it’s nice.

Slightly crooked, it softens his normally hard face. I could get used to this Nox.

He utters, “Don’t worry, you’ll live to annoy me at least another day.” I almost swoon when he winks. “I’m the best.”

And then he’s gone.

***

Nox

My body jolts as I wake.

Opening my eyes, I stretch in the rocking chair and something soft falls to the ground. My brows draw into a frown as I look to the floor.

A blanket?

Not just any blanket. The blanket from Lily’s bed.

My gaze shoots over to find her bed empty.

What the hell? Where is she? More importantly, how did she get out with me blocking the doorway?

Oh shit.

My blood runs cold as I shoot up and run down the hall. A million possibilities shoot through my brain but only one sticks.

Lily going AWOL.

Taking three steps at a time, I screech to a halt at the bottom of the stairs when I see Lily and Boo dancing in the kitchen as they cook. They sing along with the CD player.

“If you wannabe my lover, you gotta get with my friends!” This is Lily.

“Make it last forever, friendship never eeeennddss!” This is Boo.

They fuse together with, “If you wannabe my lover, you have got to give. Takin’ is too easy but that’s the way it is!” Boo takes her spatula and booms into it, “Slam! Slam! Slam! Slam!”

I’m stunned speechless. I don’t know whether to laugh or pull up a chair to catch the rest of the show. Lily looks…happy.