NO SAINTS HERE

CHAPTER ELEVEN

SAINT'S POV

What was she thinking? That I was going to hold her tight and hug her and give her a f**king ice cream?

Does she think I'm her therapist?

I couldn't afford to be stressed by a little girl with Doe eyes and Bruno reminded me about that.

I had told him who she was and how she landed in my basement when he rushed over to treat her.

"You know you could just send her back to her husband or kill her if she's being trouble. You really don't have to keep her here." He shrugged.

The idea of killing her made my blood go cold.

"Kill her? Why the f**k would I kill her? She didn't do anything wrong." I frowned.

"Just saying man." He leaned back. "It's been over a week. You can't keep her here forever. And her husband doesn't seem like he plans on paying that debt anytime soon."

"She's mine. Till her husband pays whatever he owes me I'll do whatever the f**k I want with her."

Bruno gave me a long stare. Studying me.

"Yours?" He tilted his head. "Bro what the f**k is going on with you."

I raised my brows.

"Why are you getting defensive over this girl. You just called her yours."

It hadn't even dawned on me that I was pissed when he mentioned killing her. I didn't realize I had been clenching my fist the whole time.

I unclenched it slowly and took a deep breath.

My therapist had always told me to do that when I felt like I couldn't control my actions.

"Bruno." I kept my voice flat. "Her motherf**king husband owes me money. That's the only reason I'm doing any of this."

I hoped that was convincing enough for him.

And maybe for me too.

"Okay." That was all he said. He did that thing with his face, not arguing but not convinced either. That look that said he knew there was more to it and was choosing to leave it alone for now.

I knew he doubted it.

Maybe I did too.

Or maybe I only kept her here because she reminded me of my mother. Vulnerable. Cared too much. Thought she could save the world. Always absorbing everyone's bullshit without complaint. Always acting like she was Jesus f**king Christ.

And that's what got her killed.

"Hey man." Bruno stood up. "I have to get back to the hospital. Patients waiting." He pulled his jacket on. "Make sure she eats. Takes her drugs exactly the way I told you. Rest. And no cold water."

"Thanks Bruno."

I gave him a fist bump that turned into a full grip, fingers locked, a brief pull toward each other, then gone.

He left.

I sat there for a moment.

I was going to tell her to write a letter to Kayla when she woke up. Telling her friend she was okay and just needed space. I was going to force her if I had to. Blackmail her if necessary.

And it worked exactly the way I planned.

Threatening to kill her friend was the easiest way to make her do what I wanted.

She looked at me like I was the worst thing that had ever happened to her.

I wasn't shaken. I wasn't moved.

I sat on the bed and handed her a pen. I watched her write with her tiny shaking fingers.

Tears running down her face.

Sniffing.

It was irritating me.

"Woman up and write this and stop crying like a child. It pisses me off." I looked at her. "And don't you dare spill your tears on that paper. Because I'm serious Doe and you will write it again from the beginning."