“Sonowyou want to spend time with me?” I didn’t bother to hide my bitterness. “After giving me the cold shoulder for days.”
“I’m sorry,” Ordell said. “Sorry you felt so alone. But I was trying to protect you.”
“You can protect me by being here for me.”
“She’s right,” Hemlock said.
Something unsaid passed between them, but I was too exhausted to figure it out.
I was exhausted and desperately sad for the losses I’d failed to prevent. I couldn’t do this right now. Couldn’t make this decision.
“I need to sleep on it.”
“Of course,” Ordell said. “You can take my bunk at the back.”
Hemlock slipped off the bench and led me to the back of Betsy where two bunks sat side by side. Iclimbed into the one Hemlock indicated and fell asleep enveloped by Ordell’s scent.
HEMLOCK
Orina sleeps soundly, snoring softly. I draw the blanket over her shoulders, and she doesn’t stir. Fuck, she’s beautiful. Enticing. No wonder Ezekiel is captivated.
I haven’t wanted a woman like this in a long time.
And I can’t have her now.
I join Ordell outside Betsy where he’s sipping on a fresh cup of coffee. I doubt either of us will sleep much tonight.
“We should have told her everything,” Ordell says.
Everything is simply too much. “Bad idea. This is for the best.”
“And if it goes wrong?” Ordell runs a hand down his face. “I won’t be able to do it, Hem. You know that, right?”
My heart sinks, and I tip my head up to stare at the stars, accepting my fate and my duty. “Yeah. Don’t worry. If it goes wrong, I’ll do it. I’ll kill her.”
Orina’s adventure continues in Hunt the Dusk
