Page 61 of Dark Night of the Soul

Then he went to work. One hand on my chin trying to keep my head steady. His grip was firm, but gentle. Because every time he touched the wound with antiseptic, it stung and I flinched.

His jaw was set. All hard lines. He took his time. Careful, like he couldn’t stand the idea of hurting me. Like this was an excuse to stay close.

Then he dropped the bloodied rag. “Needs stitches.”

I cringed.

“The best I can do is butterfly bandages.”

He ripped into the package without waiting for an answer.

“It’s broken, isn’t it?” he asked.

“Yes.” Because why lie? He’d know anyway.

I’d felt it crack with the second hit.

He stiffened. Went still for a half a heartbeat. Then ripped the backing off one of the butterfly bandages.

I didn’t look at him while he worked. I couldn’t face the truth in his eyes. The fury. The murderous intent.

At some point, I would tell him everything.

“That’s the best I can do,” he said. “It’ll scar.”

“Battle wounds,” I said, flippantly.

He didn’t think it was funny.

Neither did I.

He cleaned up the trash and moved away, leaving me sitting there staring at the wood paneling on the wall.

God, what was this place?

“Where are we?” I asked.

“A holding place,” he said. “Silas got us here. He’ll move us when it’s safe.”

When not if. That mattered more than I wanted to admit.

So, what did we do until then? Dance around each other and pretend everything was situational normal? Or have it out with each other?

I glanced up at him. He stood in the doorway of the kitchen, leaning against the frame, arms folded over his chest, as he’d done so many other times in so many other places. His eyes were guarded. Sharp. Wary. Like he was deciding what to do with me.

“He hit me.”

I don’t know why I said it.

But when I did, he flinched. The movement imperceptible. But I saw it. Because I knew him so well.

He didn’t move. Not one muscle. He stood there staring at me. Waiting.

“The first time to get my attention,” I said.

His arm muscles went rigid.

“The second time to make a statement,” I continued.