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An H.
I had an H carved into my back.
It wasn't really any kind of leap to know it was a Henchmen H.
I guess they really had been trying to send a message.
And I would be scarred with it forever.
No wonder Duke felt so much guilt about it.
"I'd ask if you fell in but that's not possible in that toilet," Duke called, tone a bit lighter and I found myself wondering if it was for show, for me. It probably was.
I reached for my shirt and pulled it back on, going to the door and opening it.
"I have an H carved into my back," I said, tone as bland as I could make it, hoping he didn't take it as an accusation.
His eyes went a little sad and he nodded tightly. "Yeah."
"You could have told me. I could handle it."
"Didn't want you to hate me or us for it."
I shook my head. "I don't hate you. I don't even hate whoever did it. It's weird. But I'll get used to it. It's not like I go shirtless all the time," I added, trying to lighten the mood.
His lips curved up at one side, devilish again. "If it was up to me, you'd be shirtless all the fuckin' time."
"I would cause quite the scandal at Hailstorm, I think."
He exhaled hard. "When I get you out of there, I am getting you into a bed, naked, and not letting you out of it for a week."
"Mmm," I said a little dreamily as I moved to press into his chest. "I'm all for that plan."
"Careful," he said, but he was smiling. "Keep that shit up and the Hailstorm guys will be walking in on me fucking you."
"The door is barred," I said with a grin that he returned.
"Greedy," he said, grabbing the back of my neck and lowering his head to mine to claim my lips for a short minute. It wasn't enough, but it was all I was going to get. "Alright, come on. We have lukewarm soup to consume."
With that, we did.
I was maybe a tad bit impressed by the fact that he had somehow rigged a little fire in a little container thing he found and heated the soup up over it. I was pretty sure I could screw up making a fire with a stack of matchsticks and a pile of kindling. But he managed it with some kind of striker stick thing and pieces of newspaper.
We sat down on the floor and ate in silence. Canned soup was canned soup and it didn't really need to be commented on. Besides, we were both lost in our own thoughts of what was to come. Me, what life at Hailstorm would mean around a bunch of strangers. As well as how long I would be stuck there and when my life could find some hint of normal again.
Duke, well, I could only imagine where his thoughts were. With his fallen friends, with the idea of a target on his and what was left of his loved ones' backs, how to find the person responsible, and how to protect themselves until they did.
I found my stomach wobbly and didn't feel like eating, but I finished anyway and moved my bowl to the side. The second I did, I felt Duke shift and grab my hips, pulling me against his chest, his legs on either side of mine. I pressed my shoulders into him, protecting my back but allowing me to lean into him. His arms folded across my belly and squeezed me tight.
"Can't give you a timeframe for this shit because I don't have one."
"I know."
"Reign is gonna bring a burner for you though so I can get in touch with you when I have time. Probably won't be often, but if and when I can."
"Thank you," I said, glad to have a connection, even if it was just an electronic connection, to him.
"Hailstorm isn't as intimidating as it sounds. Okay, I lied. It is. But they do a lot of cool shit there. Lo will probably make you learn some self-defense and Summer might teach you about guns. It will pass the time."
I wasn't exactly a fan of guns, but even I had to admit that, given the course my life had veered into, it might be some solid knowledge to attain.
"And they have cable and shit so you can watch your nerdy Doctor Who crap."
"Shut up," I laughed, smiling big as his arms squeezed me again.
But then there was a loud rapping at the door, making me jump and making Duke sigh.
"Time's up," he said, squeezing me once more, planting a kiss on the top of my head, then releasing me to stand. He was halfway up the stairs before I got on my feet. I slipped into my shoes as Reign's voice called through the door.
