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CHAPTER11
CHRISTY
“Help me to sit,” Renard asks, patting his hands against the mattress as he looks from Konrad to Jakub who are standing on either side of him.
They do as he asks, sliding their hands beneath his armpits and gently pulling him upright, but they fail to adjust his pillows and he slumps forward, his head hanging awkwardly.
“Here, let me,” I say, and without thinking I step towards the bed and reach behind Renard, adjusting his pillows with one hand and easing him back against them with the other.
Our eyes meet and his lips wobble. “Thank you.”
I nod, my skin covering in goosebumps as I snatch my hands back, a familiar tingling sensation scattering down my spine from the touch. I don’t want to lose myself to a vision, not now, not here alone with these men. Stepping back, I attempt to move around Konrad but he steps into my path, blocking my exit.
“You’re a brave woman, Zero,” he remarks. “Aren’t you afraid I’m going to hurt you.”
“I’ve already died, what more can you possibly do to me?” I reply, straightening my spine and refusing to look away from his gaze.
“You’d be surprised,” he replies, his eyes pensive.
I swallow hard, remembering the vision. “No, no I wouldn’t.”
Behind him Leon approaches, gun out. “I warned you, brother.”
“I have no interest in dying tonight or any other night for that matter. Lower the fucking gun and let me speak to her,” Konrad says, knowing without having to look that Leon has the gun aimed at his back.
“Say what you need to say, then let her pass,” Leon insists.
Konrad lets out a bitter laugh. “He really will do anything to protect you. Tell me, Zero, do you honestly thinkhe’syour saviour after what he did?”
“What youalldid,” I remind him, flicking my gaze between the two men, acutely aware that Jakub’s watching the scene unfold and Renard’s chest is rattling even more now as death’s grip tightens.
“Yes, you’re right. We’re all guilty of hurting you,” he concedes, bringing his hand up to my face and brushing his knuckles over my birthmark, his touch exceedingly gentle. The look in his eyes is one of conflict, however. I don’t trust him or his intentions. “Maybe that needs to change.”
Leon snorts with derision and Konrad drops his hand.
“Right now, I think you need to listen to the words of a dying man,” I say, slipping around him, returning to my place at the back of the room and as far away from these men as possible.
“Thank you, Christy,” Renard says, his chest heaving with exertion. “I have only moments left and my wish is to look upon the faces of the men I have known since they were boys. It’s been quite some time.”
Leon steps back from Konrad, holstering his gun. He’s the first to remove his mask, laying it gently on the bed. “Renard,” he says, dipping his head in acknowledgment.
“Hello, Leon. It’s good to seeyouagain,” Renard replies, his eyes misting with tears.
“Likewise, old man,” Leon mutters out.
Turning his attention to Konrad who is yet to remove his mask, Renard regards him. “I’m dying, Konrad. Does it matter if I look upon your face now?”
“I guess not,” he replies, untying his mask and removing it.
“There you are,” he says, searching for something as his gaze roves over his face. Eventually he appears to find what he’s looking for and nods. “I see you haven’t lost those boyish good looks.”
Konrad lets out a quiet laugh, pointing to his cheek. “Do you not see the scar?”
“I see it,andI see you.”
Slowly and with great effort, Renard turns to Jakub next, a tremulous smile pulling up his lips. “And you, Jakub? Will I get to look upon the man to see if the boy I once knew remains?”
Jakub grits his teeth, a muscle feathering in his jaw as he contemplates Renard’s request. “That boy doesn’t exist as you well know.”
