delicate | b.e.

eleven.

BILLIE

"I'm feeling a little better this week."

"And why's that?" Julia asks.

"I don't know." I shrug. "Fal's been really sweet and she apologizes, like, every day."

What I won't be telling Julia is that I need Fallon with me to be able to sleep every night.

For the past week, Fallon's been sleeping in my bed and when she's not, I can't fall asleep.

I only feel safe when she's there.

But Fallon's been needing comfort lately, too.

She cried in my arms about how bad of a person she is and all I could do was hold her.

I can't tell a woman— a mafia leader—who's killed someone before that she's a good person.

I know there's good in her somewhere considering she's good to me, but she knows she can't change the person she is and she hates that.

I just don't understand why she can't leave this life behind.

"So are you two good?" Julia questions. "Yeah." I nod. "We're good."

"Have you still been having nightmares?" She asks. "No." I shake my head. "Not as often, at least. I feel better when Fallon's there."

"Billie, you do realize you're gaining an attachment to your captor, correct?" She chuckles. "What? No I'm not." I deny.

"From what you tell me, you're already attached." Julia replies. "But I can't exactly blame you. Fallon's a sweet girl once you get to know her. Sure, she lives a dangerous life, but she never gets the people she loves into that stuff."

"So you think if she ever loves me, she won't take me on those missions and kill a man in front of me anymore?" I joke.

"Not funny." She rolls her eyes. "What? It's how I cope!" I put my hands up in defense.

"Trust me, Fallon made a mistake even though it was to protect you, but she won't do it again. She does care about you, Billie." Julia tells me.

"What are you, her girlfriend or some shit?" I laugh. "Billie, I'm ten years older than her. Not to mention, she's my boss." Julia sighs.

"Oh, right." I smile sheepishly. "It's alright, honey. You'll have to get going though. I have a client coming soon." She replies.

"Okay. Thanks, Julia." I smile softly. "Of course. See you next week." Julia grins.

I wave and get off the couch in her office before walking out and downstairs. I walk to Fallon's car and get in.

"Hi, darling. Everything good?" Fallon asks. "Mhm." I nod. "Let's get going. I have something I wanna give you when we get back." She tells me. "What is it?" I ask.

"Surprise."

I don't say anything, just nod.

When we get back to her house, we head inside. "Go upstairs, I'll be there in a second." Fallon says. "Okay." I respond.