Page 21 of Make Me Bleed

“Oliver, darling.” I wince, and okay, sometimes I regret using his middle name as my working name, but I was really fucked up the first time, and now, I’m stuck with it. But I don’t hate it entirely. Sometimes… sometimes it makes me feel just a little bit closer to him in some fucked up way.

Okay, a lot of fucked up ways.

“Yes, Harvey?” I say sweetly, rolling his name around on my tongue while trying to keep my teeth from clacking together. Motherfucker,it’s cold. All of my muscles are tensing up and making it hard to speak.

“How would you like to come away with me this weekend? Nowhere far, just into the city. I’ve got some business to attend to, but I don’t wish to be alone all weekend, so I’d love for you to accompany me.”

“And keep you entertained between all of those boring business meetings, hm?” I ponder the request, drawing my brows together. Surely he must know how much it’ll cost him for the whole weekend…

“And you’ll do a brilliant job of it,” he says sweetly, and I grin.

“You know I’m not cheap, baby.”

“Of course not. Wouldn’t dream of it.” I can hear his smile through the phone.

“And I love room service,” I quip as I stare out at the grounds. At the trees devoid of leaves. The sky cloudy and dark gray. The grass dying and dead in spots.

“As you wish.” This time, he chuckles into the line, and the vibration would send goosebumps skittering across my arms if I didn’t already have them from the cold.

“Amazing. When do you want me?” I ask, pulling my bottom lip between my teeth as I work logistics out in my mind.

“Tonight through Sunday afternoon. I can pick you up and bring you home, darling.”

My muscles tighten even more than they already are from the cold. None of my clients know where I live—and that’s not about to change now.

“No… you know the rules,” I chastise Harvey lightly, keeping my tone low and enticing, even as my teeth clack together.

He chuckles. “Ah, well, yes. Shall I provide you with a little extra for fare then?”

I smile triumphantly. “Yes, please.”

“Such good manners.”

“Always,” I retort, and Harvey laughs lowly.

“Sure, darling. I’ll send you the address, and I will see you tonight, then?”

“Yes, sir.”

“Mmm.Good. Safe travels.” And with that, there’s a soft click of the line as he ends the call. I stare down at my phone, blinkinga few times before I force my way back inside before I freeze my ass off—literally.

“Everything okay?” Margaret asks as I step back inside, teeth clacking and muscles frozen stiff.

“Yes, sorry. Just a work call,” I tell her as I follow her into the lounge so we can get set up for bingo—one of the residents’ favorite nights of the week.

“Oh. Everything okay?” she asks as she blows some of her blonde hair out of her face.

I swallow heavily as I clamp my fingers around the edge of the table. “Yeah. I’m just going to be away for the weekend. Do you think Morana will be okay?”

Her brows furrow, but she smiles. “Yes, of course she will, Abel.”

“Sorry, I know that. I just don’t like being away from her for so long.”

Her frown morphs into a soft smile that makes my chest ache because I’m pathetic. “I know, honey, but I promise you she will be okay. That’s why she’s here. We always take care of her.”

I smile gratefully at her, feeling my chest swell with something I can’t name. “And I can’t thank you all enough for everything you guys do for her. You’ve… you’ve saved her life. And mine.”

“Abel…”