At least we’re in agreement about something.
We walk in silence, his hand still wrapped around my arm. The compound is bigger than I thought. Several acres at least, surrounded by a high chain link fence topped with barbed wire that screamsstay out.
“Most of us live here,” Bane says, breaking the silence when he notices me checking the place out. “Either in the clubhouse or somewhere on the property. We keep our family close.”
I nod, a pang of envy hitting me in the chest.
Family.
I wouldn’t know what that feels like. To have people around who loved me and were always watching my back. My dad wasn’t the fatherly type, and we sure as heck never had family around. He couldn’t wait to ship me off to boarding school.
Bane’s voice breaks into my thoughts, and I look up to find him staring at me with a look of concern on his face.
“Huh?”
“I asked if you were okay. You zoned out for a second there.”
Forcing a smile, I wave off his concern. “Yeah. I’m fine.”
His brow pinches like he’s trying to figure me out. He can look all he wants, but there’s no way I’m letting him see behind the curtain. I’m all kinds of messed up, with enough daddy issues to fill a dump truck.
I blink innocently.
“You don’t have to tell me, Frankie,” he sighs, “But don’t fucking lie, yeah?”
I bite my lip, feeling properly chastised. “Yeah. Sorry.”
His eyes flick between mine, then he juts out his chin. “We’re here.”
Glancing over, my jaw drops. “No way.” I giggle. He’s got to be kidding. “You live in a barn?” That’s actually kind of cool.
“Above it, actually,” he corrects.
“How am I not surprised?” I mumble, following him up the wooden steps.
“Smartass,” he mutters, unlocking a red metal door and pushing it open.
The moment the door swings wide, two massive shapes come barreling toward us, and I frantically scramble behind Bane, clutching the back of his shirt.
“Jesus!” I yelp.
He laughs, the sound vibrating through his back. “They’re friendly.”
“Friendly, my ass. They look like they could rip me to shreds.” I peek around his arm, using him as a human shield. That’s when I see the scars all over their faces and bodies. Deep ridges across their muzzles, missing patches of fur, and what looks like healed puncture wounds across their shoulders and chests.
“What happened to them?” My voice breaks as I meet Bane’s eyes.
His jaw tightens. “Assholes happened to them.”
He steps into the loft, and I stay velcroed to his back, still not trusting that the dogs won’t decide I look like a chew toy.
“This is Peter Parker,” he says, pointing to the bigger dog, a gray pitbull with one of its ears half missing. “And this is Pepper Potts.” The smaller pit, also gray but with a white patch on its chest, wags her tail so hard her whole back end wiggles.
My eyebrows shoot up. “Marvel? Seriously?”
I cautiously move around Bane and hold out my hand, letting Peter sniff me. His wet nose tickles my palm before he gives it a gentle lick. I do the same with Pepper, who seems even more eager for attention.
“It’s the better franchise,” Bane says, narrowing his eyes like he’s daring me to disagree.
