Page 128 of Eight of Swords, Part Two

It’s certainly not the first time Riley has seen his father kill someone.

It’s not the first body.

Not first blood.

Riley himself killed D’Angelo and he barely thinks about it.

But something in the rapid succession of the shots fired has shaken Riley.

Knives are one thing.

Bullets are very much another.

Riley drains the glass. Troy opens the refrigerator.

‘You’re white as a sheet.’

He still talks to Riley even though he thinks Riley can’t hear him.

There’s a stubbornness about it, like he expects one day Riley will heal and there’s no point changing in the meantime.

That, or he just knows deep down.

He’s making a sandwich.

Riley knows that no matter what it is, he won’t like it.

Food still tastes disgusting. He has to force himself to eat it.

‘So.’ Troy looks at Riley. ‘How do you feel?’

Riley shrugs.

‘No, answer me,’ Troy insists sternly. ‘Speak.’

Having barely spoken since he lost his hearing, Riley doesn’t want to. He wants to save his voice for the boy in his dreams or the girl with the red hair. He likes not speaking, wants to be invisible. But Troy won’t ask twice and Riley isn’t in the mood to get hurt.

‘Feel fine.’

‘All right,’ Troy allows, making a peanut butter and jelly sandwich that Riley will have to choke down. ‘I know you’ve seen a lot of things. I never wanted to shield you from it because this is our life, but still. Three is a lot.’

Riley stays silent because Troy wasn’t looking at him while he said that, so he can pretend he didn’t hear.

When the sandwich is done, he hands it to Riley on a plate.

Such a weird exchange.

Riley takes it, makes himself eat a bite, corner first.

‘You’re gettin’ taller.’

Another bite will let him stay silent.

‘Are you still getting headaches?’ Riley ignores it, staring at the food, but Troy taps the underside of his chin, makes him look and repeats himself clearly, touching his own temple.

Riley shakes his head. ‘No.’

‘Good.’ Troy seems almost guilty. ‘I hoped I’d be able to start letting you out a bit more now, but. Well. I’ll bring you a new book next week.’