Page 28 of Moros

“You know Tex knows where you are, right?” Dude asked.

“I know.”

“I’ll tell Pasha you’re fine.” Dude took pity on me. “I won’t tell her where you’re at. But at some point, you should call her. Don’t let her light Toronto on fire to smoke you out.”

I laughed. “I’ll go back tomorrow.”

Alone in the silence of the empty bar, I finished my sandwich, drank two bottles of water then washed up in the staff bathroom in the back. And while I wanted to look into Ryanne’s situation more, Dude was right.

The migraine trying to push my eyeballs from their sockets from inside my skull needed darkness.

After setting up on the floor with the cushions from the sofa—Pasha’s idea—I turned out the lights, but the moon was still shining through the glass walls.

I found tiny red remote on my desk and queued the blinds. There was a click before the shades began descending. Waiting for them to close all the way, I sighed, removed my jacket and rested back to the cushions.

In the silence, to give myself more darkness, I covered my eyes with my jacket and exhaled, feeling the exhaustion pulsing against my lower back.

I closed my eyes, allowed myself a moment to just breathe—deeply to slow my heart and relax. The less blood my heart was pumping through me, the more my body would cut off the power to the migraine and the sooner it would go away.

At some point during the night, I was able to fall asleep, the nightmares floating in on me, but they weren’t as dark as they usually were.

The next morning, my headache was gone but my body was sore. I packed up and left Musk for the gym. Since I was a yearly member, I had a locker and had laundry service available. My locker had been cleaned, my gym clothes folded neatly and had the faint scent of fabric softener.

I changed quickly, got a work-out in to further clear my head before showering and making my way back to the house. Pasha met me at the door—the moment I entered my code for the gate, I knew she’d know.

“You’re still here.” I kissed the side of her head just as Ryanne walked into the room. “I thought you had a meeting in Hamilton today.”

“Yes, but you were missing.” Pasha told me, following me into the kitchen for me to find coffee. “I couldn’t leave.”

I sighed while pouring myself a mug.

“Dude told you I wasn’t missing.” I sipped. “And you know what’s happening when I go off like that.”

“That won’t stop me from worrying.” Pasha pointed out. “Feeling better?”

“Mm.”

“Listen, Moros.” Pasha sat on one of the stools and rested her elbows on the marble counter. “You sure you want to keep doing this? We can call Dude, have him send some people and?—”

“I gave my word.”

“Fuck your word!” Pasha snapped. “When was the last time you had one of those migraines? I don’t like you in pain.”

Reaching over, I caressed her cheek gently as her brown stare dug into my face. Eventually, I let my hand fall and she sighed.

“I’ll be okay.” I told her. “And if I’m not okay, I have you to reel me in. Try not to worry.”

Pasha twisted her lips from a frown into a thin line.

“You be careful.” Pasha told me. “I’m watching you.”

I winked at her.

She hurried around the counter to kiss my shoulder.

“Breakfast is in the oven.” She informed me. “I’m going to try making my meeting. Call if you need me.”

She was halfway out the door by then.