Who knew Cutty could have a sense of humor? I guessed he was one of those people who became funnier as the situation worsened. It was a relief, since the tension in the room had been reaching an unbearable level.
Fate stood and backed away from the bed. “I’ve got the worst wound bandaged, but she needs some stitching. You’re better at it.” He pointed to the supplies he’d placed close by.
Cutty came and took a seat next to me on the bed and pulled out a flask. “Here, take a good swig.” Cutty pushed the container toward me. “Although I’d say the stitches are going to be the least of your pains. Probably won’t even notice, looking at the rest of you.”
“No, I’ll get you something better.” Fate grabbed the flask and disappeared for a minute while Cutty was figuring out which cut to tackle first.
“Here, it’s Maker’s Mark,” Fate said, when he came back holding out a glass.
I took it and gulped liberally as Cutty started to sew up one of the gashes on my side.
“You’re a tougher chick than I gave you credit for,” Cutty said, obviously impressed I wasn’t crying like a total baby.
I wanted to, though.
“Too tough,” Fate added. “Stay with her. I’ll be back.”
The second Fate walked out of the bedroom, Cutty leaned in closer and asked in a soft voice, “What the hell is going on? You’re a wreck and he looks like he’s about to kill someone.”
“Nothing.”
“You’re really going to lie here and say nothing?” He raised a hand and made a sweeping gesture over my dilapidated form.
“Can you at least tell me why he’s so pissed off?” His head bent over my torso as he resumed stitching. “Least you can do, I think, considering I didn’t duct tape you to the chair and now I’m stitching you up better than a Build-a-Bear.”
“I have no idea why he’s mad.” And in truth, I didn’t. It wasn’t like he played by the rules, so to be angry with me for not playing by them as well was simply hypocritical. Hell, he didn’t even believe in rules, by his own admission. Why he felt like he was in charge of what I was doing was beyond my reasoning, as well.
There was a crash in the other room, and both of our heads swung around. After the next crashing sound, Cutty’s eyes met mine. “Seriously, what the hell did you do?”
“Maybe you should go in there and make sure he’s okay?” And buy me some time to sneak out of here. I was held together by tape, string and plastic wrap, but it was enough. The longer I stayed here, the worse it would be. I needed to keep my distance from them. Everything that happened in front of me, Malokin would know. Every word that might be said could endanger someone else. No one realized the threat I posed to them.
“Fuck no. You did this. You check on him,” Cutty said, but there was no anger in his words.
Another crash. What the hell was he doing in there?
“What if he’s hurt?” I had to get Cutty out of here so I could leave as well.
“The only one that’ll get hurt is me, if I get in his way.” Cutty met my eyes, humor fading into something more serious. “Really, what’s going on between you two? Fate doesn’t get like this.”
“Nothing. He just gave me a ride.”
He tied off another knot and placed the needle beside the bed. His eyes went to the door, back to me, and then he shook his head. “Not good. I was worried about this.”
“What?” I was curious and defensive all at once. I could feel the blame for something heading my way.
He looked at me. “You know, for a bright girl, you can be awfully stupid.”
“I don’t understand.” What was Cutty seeing that I didn’t?
“I hope whatever this is between you two doesn’t fuck with the rest of us.” Cutty stood up and started walking out.
“That isn’t because of me, and it’s not my problem.” I almost added that his friend was a control freak and just didn’t like being out of the loop. If I did, I’d have to explain what loop he was out of, and I certainly didn’t want to go there.
He threw his hands up into the air. “I can’t talk to you if you’re going to be this much of an idiot.”
“Huh?” He just kept walking out. I pushed up off the bed to try and follow him. My head immediately started to swim and not from blood loss. Someone had taken perfectly good Maker’s Mark and spiked it on me.
Chapter 27
On my own.
The morning light was shining in my eyes, as I lay on Fate’s bed, alone. Looking next to me, I could tell I’d had company at some point. The spot beside me was wrinkled, like someone had slept on top of the covers.
I ran a hand over the wound on my ribs, which was freshly wrapped. I gave my lungs a try and got a fulfilling sensation deep in my chest. Well, deep might have been stretching it, but I could breathe, so who was I to complain?
The t-shirt I was wearing came almost to my knees and smelled of Fate. He’d already seen me naked, so it shouldn’t have been a big thing. And yet, it was. It didn’t help that my legs were a mishmash of bruises and cuts.
It shouldn’t matter. It couldn’t.
I shoved it from my mind with the force of a Mac truck barreling down a highway. I didn’t have room for softness or worrying about what Fate thought.
The only sound in the house was the AC churning out cool air and the distant pounding of waves coming from the beach. Empty. Good.
I needed to get out of here before Fate got back and the questions commenced. Swinging my good leg over the side of the bed first, I dragged the bad one after it and limped over to his dresser.
His top right drawer held a nice supply of sweat pants. I grabbed the first pair I saw and rolled them up to accommodate my shorter stature.
Still silent, almost too much so. Why wasn’t the phone ringing? Close proximity to Fate usually warranted a couple warning rings, at the very least.
I moaned. That might be because my phone was buried in a mud pile somewhere. Wal-Mart was going to get their money’s worth out of me in throwaway phone purchases, and I was going to need a raise from someone. Two different employers and I was still poor. Something was very wrong with this picture.
Realizing I had nothing else with me, my hands felt bare. All of my possessions had been left scattered in the forest last night. I was going to have to go digging around the condo complex for my stashed keys, not to mention I was going to have to limp to get there.
Peeking around the corner, the house appeared empty but a complete mess. Piles of glass sat under stains on the wall. A hutch lay on its face, shades torn from the windows. I tiptoed past the mess and was almost to the door when I heard him come up behind me. Not so empty, I guess.
My body froze but I didn’t turn around. The front door was only a few feet away, taunting me with the small distance. A couple of steps more and I would’ve been gone.
I should’ve known better. Fate never made things that easy. Everything about him was complicated. Even if it started simple, it didn’t stay that way.
“Where are you going?”
“I’m sorry, did you miscalculate how much you spiked my drink?” I said, sugary sweet as I turned to face him.
“Actually, I did. If I could’ve trusted you to rest for a while, it wouldn’t have been necessary,” he countered, clearly not feeling the least bit shamed by his actions.
“I’ve got a job.” I started walking forward, but I knew that wouldn’t be the end of it. I opened the door and he slammed it shut, leaving his hand firmly against it as he stood by my side. He was so close his chest pressed against my shoulder.
“Who are you working for today? You’re not going anywhere until we talk.”
I wanted to scream in frustration. I can’t talk! I kept my eyes forward and stared at where his hand was splayed against the rich dark wood. It might as well have been iron bars, under my current physical condition. He needn’t try so hard to keep me in.
My fake composure slipped on like someone else threw on a raincoat. Bracing myself for the suspicion I’d find in his eyes, I turned to face him. “Sure. What’s up?”