TIGERLILLY- THE BRAVO BOYS [book two]

Chapter THIRTEEN

Frankie Xiao

When I hear the metallic scrape of a key fitting into the front door, I leap to my feet like a bolt of lightning.. Scrambling to stuff River's Biography back beneath the sofa.. I know he must have put it there on purpose.. Which means I am probably not supposed to be reading it..
But I just have to! I want to know how every last detail of his heroics.. Even if he doesn't want me to.

I stand in the middle of the room, flushed in the face and trying not to look guilty as I pick at the sleeve of my crimson red sweater dress..

River lumbers in, kicking off his sneakers by the door and looking around to check that everything is in place.. His searching gaze tenderizes in relief when he spies Lovey, blissfully sucking her binky and twiddling with the hanging mobile above her cot in mesmerised delight..

He drops a stack of blue folders on the coffee table.. "Well.. Ye' didn'ae burn the place down, so I assume ye ' had no problems.. Here, Lilly.. This is for you." He turns to grin at me as he hands me a small pink box which I reflexively accept..

Lifting his hoodie up over his head, his shirt gets tangled up inside and the flash of his creamy, well toned muscle makes my mouth dry and my palms clammy..

"For me?" I stare at him slack jawed as he fixes his T-shirt back into place, brushing his hand back through his hair..

"Aye.. I thought you might like it.." With his attention divided he talks to me as he leans over the cot, reaching down to tickle Lovey' s tummy and a sunny giggle bubbles from her babbling mouth..

"Ba-ba-bab! Ba!"

"Hiya princess.." He croons to the babe as he plays with her tiny tootsies.. "Daddy missed you.. He did.. Uh-huh!"

I peel back the lid on the delicate paper box to see a cute pink cupcake, topped with fluffy frosting and pink sprinkles, it smells of sweet almond and vanilla.. Delicious and adorable..

"Cake?" I examine it with a disconcerted eye..

He chuckles, making what I hope is a joke.. "Aye, cake.. I didn't poison it--if that's what you're thinkin'.."

"No.. But.." I puzzle so hard my brain hurts.. What does this mean? I had thought River was so different from Master Li, but maybe he isn't at all.. "Master, I don't understand--"

He turns to look up at me.. "Whoa! Hey-- What's wrong?"

My hands shake so violently I fear I might drop the fateful gift.. My focus blurs as tears sting in my eyes.."W-why would you?"

"I--" He opens and shuts his mouth.. "I saw it in the shop window-- It's just a cupcake, Wallflower."

"What does cake mean?" I place it down on the table to take a stumbling step backwards, dizzy with nausea and afraid of what this cupcake might cost..

"Uhh-- it's-- Angel Food Cake?" He frowns in confusion..

I reach up to wipe my eyes on my sleeve.. "What do you want?"

He blinks.. "You've lost me, Wallflower?"

"For the cupcake.." I shudder.. "What do I give you?"

His eyes darken and he sneers in disgust.. "Nothin'.. It's only a fuckin' cupcake.. Jeezus Christ.. We'll talk about this, Lilly, I just--" He leans down to collect Lovey.. "I need a minute--" Taking the baby with him he leaves me alone in the living room, disappearing down the hall where the door clicks closed..

Oh no.. Have I made a mistake?

Whenever Li Jun would give me something so nice, I would pay for it in pieces of my flesh..
He would tell me to lie still.. To be silent..