I shake my head, already knowing Raven can hold her weight.
Getting up so Judge can leave, my breath catches when he pats my shoulder. He leans in, his breath tickling my ear. “I’ve got people here and there around the town. Just look for the patch. If you can’t make it by your own wheels, find one of them and tell them Judge sent you.”
Nodding, I almost lean toward him when he pulls back, giving me a soft smile. Hard to believe he can do that, hold such a power that others will stop what they’re doing to appease him.
Clutching the paper in my fist, I thank them again for the food. Watching them leave, saying goodbye to the other workers, it’s the sound of motorcycles that follows with their departure.
“Do not keep that.” Raven shakes her head and frowns when I ignore her again.
I think… I’m in love. So, I will keep it.
If there’s anything I know about Raven, even if she completely goes against it, she’ll follow me wherever I go. And I think… I want to take a risk. Even if it’s a dangerous one, I’ll do it. So that I can explore these new feelings and see what they can lead me to.
8
Judge
I’ve learned to wake up at the drop of a needle thanks to this life. Especially now, when anything could happen, I try to be prepared wherever I am.
So, when I hear Penelope’s soft whimper, my eyes are open, and my heart is going at it, preparing me for anything. Sitting up, my back throbs, aching in protest from sleeping on the floor. Ignoring the ache, my next breath sticks in my lungs.
The young woman is muttering things in her sleep, her eyes moving around behind her closed lids.
Just like me, she’s haunted by things in her past. Raven had muttered her concerns of nightmares before, but Penelope said the same thing about her sister. Neither has admitted how often they come.
Reaching for her, I hesitate before touching her arm. Keeping my fingertips from pressing too close, I lean toward her. “Penelope?”
I already know what she’s dreaming about, what’s haunting her. I hate it, I hate that I can’t protect her from it. Hate that I can’t absorb her pain and just take on everything by myself. I’m strong, I’ve been through it all.
Instead, I only did what I know best.
If I told her the truth, that I had Ghost track the bastard down with Raven’s help, took Ripper with me to make a visit, and had Grim clean up the aftermath of my anger, her nightmares would be full of me instead of him.
I don’t want her to see me as a monster.
Whispering her name again, trying not to startle her, I squeeze her arm when my light touch isn’t working.
Her eyes open, and after a few seconds, she realizes it’s just me. Instantly, she relaxes. Her brows pinch together, and instead of pulling away, she’s reaching for me when I try to give her space.
“Will you…” Her voice shakes as her eyes pinch close. “I don’t want to sleep alone.”
There’s no time to think about what I should or shouldn’t do. All she has to do is breathe the words, and I’m crawling onto the bed with her. Already knowing just how much room I’ll take, she’s curling against me like she doesn’t mind.
Hiding away from the world by stuffing her face into my chest, her breath tickles my throat. Shaky and uneven.
If she leans any closer, she’ll hear how hard my heart is working overtime.
Closing my eyes, I try to calm the war brewing between my heart and my head now that I’m settled. I try to enjoy a moment of weakness. Having an arm wrapped around her feels like a dream come true.
Stroking her hair, it’s the softest thing I’ve ever touched. Smells just like the shampoo we keep stocked up, but there’ssomething different about it when it’s clinging to her. Smells good. I want every breath that fills my lungs to be full of her.
She doesn’t take long to settle down, melting in my arms. Pressing her face forward, her breathing steadies back into an even rhythm.
How long am I allowed to touch her like this? One more minute. No, maybe, two.
Telling myself that I’ll move away the moment she starts stirring awake, I don’t budge despite the seconds passing by. I’ll stay alert, even if it’s at the cost of my sleep.
Yet, the longer I soak in her heat, the more she snuggles into me, the heavier my eyelids feel. Letting them fall just once, simply to let them rest, is my biggest mistake. I’m out, just as quickly as she is.
