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He picks up a fork and cuts off a piece himself. I watch him chew and swallow it.
“Perfectly safe.” He goes to cut off another bite. “Why didn’t you eat the other food then?”
“It’s hard to eat when your stomach is in knots.”
“I’m not going to harm you.” He brings the bite to my mouth. My worry isn’t about me. I’m in a fluffy robe in a room fit for a queen. It’s my friend I worry for.
“Because you’re a man of the cloth? It would be breaking the rules.” I lean in and take the bite. A small moan leaves me when the sweetness explodes over my tongue. He sucks in a deep breath at the sounds I’m making.
“No, that is not why I wouldn’t hurt you.” He answers my question.
“But—”
“We both can read the same words or see the same event unfold in front of us, but our experience is unlike the others. Everyone interprets things differently.”
Why have I never thought of it that way before? He’s right.
“We both can stand and watch a man die. Some might cheer in justice while others might weep in sorrow.”
“Who are you?” I don’t understand this man. He pulls at his collar.
“I merely keep the peace.” A gatekeeper of sorts? Maybe a reaper at times?
“At what cost?”
“All costs.” He brings another bite to my mouth.
“Could the cost be Laurel?”
“I think your friend is a bigger threat than Santino at the moment.” How could that be?
“To who?” My mind races with ideas. Why would Santino take her? There is no reason. He got her father’s shop. The only thing that makes sense is that Santino wants her for himself.
“Everyone. Now open for me.” I part my lips and take the bite. His words only confirm what I was speculating. “What is your name?”
“I thought I was the one asking the questions.” I peek over at him. His eyes never leave me. He watches me so closely. I find that I like his attention on me, which is absolutely insane. “I don’t know. They never could figure out where I came from, so I guess I got a state name. Even had to guess my birthdate. Doesn’t matter.” I shrug. “Call me whatever.” I stare out the window, the sun almost gone. It’s not as though anyone is going to come looking for me.
In this world, I’m really nobody. It hurts to know that. I didn’t want Laurel to feel the same. It’s why I came. I wanted her to know she wouldn’t fall through the cracks.
A fate I always knew would be my own.
CHAPTER5
BJORNSSON
No name?I hide my shock by cutting up her uneaten steak. “Here.”
She opens her mouth obediently. I continue to feed her. When she waves her hand to indicate she’s done, I pour myself a full glass of Scotch and her a small snifter of brandy. “It’s sweet,” I promise, but her face curls at the first sip.
She sets it aside. “Your definition of sweet is different than mine. The tart was sweet. This is…” She sticks out her tongue like a tiny cat.
The urge to lift her up and pet her makes my fingers tremble. I fist my hands and remind myself of my calling, my position.
“Maybe so. I like sweet with a little bite,” I admit. “What did your friend call you? The one that Santino is keeping.”
“Laurel? I told her my name was Charlotte after the Queen in the Netflix show. She called me Charlie for short.”
“I haven’t seen it.”
