Page 46 of Burn the World Down

Stepping into his bathroom, I glanced around. He’d brought all my things from the motel, so now I had makeup and clean clothes. My nose wrinkled. Although a part of me was sad to give up his soft T-shirt.

The bathroom was nice. It was done in a matching, masculine vibe to the bedroom. There was a mix of dark-gray tiles and lighter concrete. The large, glassed-in shower had a huge rain-shower head.

Then I turned and saw myself in the circular mirror above the sink.

Oh God. My stomach dropped. I didn’t look so nice.

I looked like an extra from a horror movie. One side of my face was covered in multiple bruises that were currently a shade I’d call putrid grape. I lifted the shirt and saw the blotchy bruising covering my torso.

Wow. I looked…terrible. There was no way I could hide the bruises. I sucked in a breath. This was only temporary. I’d heal.

And Snyder and Bruno would pay.

I turned the shower on. Nash and his friends said they’d help me take down Snyder and his posse. I pressed my hands to my chest, a flush of hope filling me.

Nash hadn’t confirmed that they were assassins, but I knew it in my gut. They’d been trained to take down bad guys. As much as this felt like my problem to deal with, there was no way I’d turn away from that help.

The renewed hope spread. I had a purpose.

“I’m doing this for you, Viv,” I murmured.

I wouldn’t let her death be in vain.

I stepped under the water, which stung when it hit my bruises. I winced and adjusted the spray. I was moving slower than I would’ve liked, but I reminded myself that it could have been much worse. It took me forever to wash my hair, but being clean felt good. The shampoo smelled citrusy like Nate. A tingling sensation filled my belly.

After shutting off the water, I stepped out. As I grabbed a towel, a wave of dizziness hit.

“Shit.” I staggered, the towel in one hand, while I grabbed at the vanity with the other. I knocked over a can of deodorant, and it clattered to the floor.

“Georgie!” The door flew open and Nash barreled inside.

We both froze.

His eyes dropped to my breasts. I didn’t cover my naked body.

His gaze burned into me and traveled down my body. There were more bruises, and I knew I’d lost weight over the last few months. Self-consciousness crept up like a giddy enemy.

But he didn’t seem to care. Heat flared in his eyes.

“I’m okay.” I shakily wrapped the towel around me.

He looked at me for another beat. “You sure?”

I nodded.

“Get dressed. After breakfast, we’re starting.”

“Starting what?”

“Your training.”

“My training?” God, I sounded like a parrot.

His lips twitched. “Yes. We’re starting with some time at the shooting range. Next time you shoot at Snyder, you’ll hit him.”

Nash turned and strode out.

My chest swelled. He was really going to help me.