Page 62 of Rapunzel Is Losing It

“You’re the only one who knew.”

“He doesn’t even know that I knew. He’d have my head on a platter if he did.” Luka tapped his fingers against the steeringwheel. “A couple years ago, your girl bought the house next to hers. Put your name on the deed.”

It took a second before his words clicked. “Oh, for fuck’s sake. That’s public record.”

“She screwed up.”

“Yeah. Fuck.” Cordelia’s koi pond ramble about property lines made so much more sense now. I had no idea about the legalities of owning property and hadn’t thought much of it. If she wanted a koi pond, she’d make it happen. Except I - Victor Yelchin - actually owned my house and its backyard. “She bought me a fucking house for my birthday.” Six years of teacups suddenly looked very silly.

“Sorry, bro.”

“If you ever tell her that’s how Petya found me, I will scalp you.”

“Despite what you might think, I have no interest in ruining your life.”

“Then tell me how to get out of this. What does your father want?” I asked, watching the street lights flicker out. The morning was gray and hazy, sunrise covered by a thick layer of clouds.

“I don’t know what he’s working on, but I think it has something to do with Paris.”

“Paris?”

“There’s a fight night scheduled for Paris in about two months. You’re on the card.”

“Against?”

Luka stayed silent as he brought the car to a standstill across the street from Cordelia’s house.

“Luka, who am I fighting?”

“Silver.”

“Fuck’s sake.” I ran my hand down my face and flinched at my own rough touch, the cuts on my brow and cheek openingback up. My fingers came away bloody. A little blood would be the least of my concerns though. I had fought Emanuel Silver twice - and he’d knocked me out both times. If he landed another hit like that to my head, I was done. “Is it a one way ticket? Am I coming back in a body bag, guts replaced by drugs?”

“Not if you win.”

“Great. Thanks.”

“Go home. Get some sleep.”

The only reason I didn’t push further was that I didn’t want to waste another second out here. Maybe I should have just gone to my own house and my own bedroom. My instincts led me to Cordelia though.

The house was quiet, and upstairs only the faint glow of Cordelia’s night light spilled out from under her door. It probably would have been kinder to let her sleep, but I needed to check on her. I needed to see her face and know that she was okay. If I’d just walked in, chances were, I’d send her into a panic spiral, so I gently tapped a single knuckle against the door, once, twice.

“Del?” She croaked, sleepy but awake.

“No,” I replied and pushed the door open just enough to slip through.

“You’re back.” Fuck, that little rasp in her voice was cute. Even when I saw her first thing in the morning, she was usually a bit more awake - and I suddenly hated that I wasn’t here the very second she opened her eyes, to hear that sleepy voice.

“I’ll let you get back to sleep. I just wanted to check on you.”

“No, wait.” Her bedsheets rustled and a moment later, the bedside lamp switched on. Cordelia’s whole body jerked the second she saw my face. Yeah. Not pretty. Especially with the cuts freshly opened again. “Oh my god.”

“It looks worse than it is. I’m fine.”

“You’re bleeding.” She untangled herself from her bedsheets, clad in one of her tiny pajamas. Those things were a satin whiff of nothing, masquerading as tiny tops with tiny shoulder straps, and tiny shorts to go with them.

My eyes were squarely focused on her long, smooth legs when Cordelia grabbed me by the wrist and pulled me into the bathroom - which only gave me a perfect view of her ass in those tiny shorts.