Brushing my thumb against her cheek, she cracks a little more, and so do I.
“I will always believe you, Sunshine.Even if you don’t believe yourself.”
That crack splits into a tectonic fissure through her emotions and bleeds.She crumbles in my arms, crying harder than she had earlier.So much so, her whole body jolts for gasps as if each one is the first time she’s experienced the breath of life.
Words fail me; what can you say or do when the woman you’d kill for, is falling apart?She hates herself, loathes everything from being medicated to self–isolation and learning how to act by watching other people.All she wants is to be normal and I think the idea of never being normal is what will destroy her the most.
Chapter ten
‘Lias
Westayedinthetruck until Sadie stopped crying.She slipped into fitful sleep after being wound up since the attack.I carried her up to her apartment, watched her take her meds, undressed her, and put her to bed.The phantom rasp of her boot strings comes and goes across my fingers, reminding me that she’s as fragile as she is explosive.Beneath black leather was the silliest pair of socks; I think they were Tasmanian Devil—that tornado of a brown animal with sharp teeth printed all over the white fabric.I had to sit for a moment and stare at them, chuckling to myself.They were so out of character for her style but fit her personality to a damn T.
Her hoodie was next, followed by a warm damp washcloth to her face, neck, and knuckles—removing Chelsea’s blood, and finally bandaging her wounds.For two hours I watched before letting myself out.
Now I’m here, back in Oregon, listening to Mav issue our next assignment and discuss upcoming cases that will complicate our workload.This is the easy shit—find and capture, escort and keep safe, privatize stuffy elite dinners in high-risk locations.There are clear objectives and rules of engagement that mimic what I experienced in the service—yet navigating what I’m nursing with Sadie is about as treacherous as the Bering Sea.
Before dismissing, we address the interference we’re receiving from local authorities thanks to thisInvestigatorguy roaming the streets.He’s started branching across state lines, and Oregon authorities think we may see him before the end of the year.Nothing we can’t handle, tighten observation, report anything to the police—typical crime stoppers type gig.While Mav’s teaching the young bucks protocols and how to handle themselves accordingly, I’m stuck in my phone.
She’s in a good mood today.I haven’t seen her in close to forty-eight hours and I'm ready to leave—I can do my recon electronically at first, before needing to find my escort and do what he pays me to do.
Me
X-rays, Sunshine.You need x-rays of your hands prior to working out.Especially if you’re going to hit something, or someone.
Sunshine
No I don’t.Why don’t you fuck off and mind your business.
Me
You are my business, brat.X-rays, or I’m calling Kace.
Sunshine
Call him.:) Sure he would like to know how they got there and why you didn’t tell him what happened.
I didn’t tell him because he’d pull her out of school and not let her out of his sight.She’d end up finishing her classes online, which she'll have to do anyway since she's been expelled for fighting on campus.You know what, maybe I will; at least someone will have eyes on her.
Me
Give me five and I’ll let you know what he says.Better pack your bags, Spawn, cause you know he'll be at your door before the hour’s up.
Sadie
You wouldn’t dare…
Me
Try me.
“Yo, old man.Pay attention,” Karson, one of Mav’s friends and another team member, blurts.
“Watch who you’re calling old, boy.I’ll have your ass strung up before you know what hit you.”
“He’s got a point.I need you focused.Leave the girl alone,” Mav adds.
“Last time I took orders from someone your age, I was packing rounds with powder and pumping them into hostiles.Get on with your briefing.”
