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"I am not wanting to be trouble. There is no need to bother for me." I am quite capable of organising my own breakfast, if she'll give me a clue as to which of the many, many cupboards house the things I need.
I am so much more suited to my lovely little campsite.
"Eat, pet. Build your strength back." Gladys directs me. She was sad last night, but this morning, her happiness is back again.
"Have they told you all that happened?" I frown.
"I know about Porter's sister." Gladys places her hand over mine. "Knox sang your praises too."
"I could not fight off a girl in handcuffs." And for some reason, that statement makes me laugh.
"Well, I'd wager you used all your energy on the full grown henchman first. Given what you went through, and her past training, you have nothing to be ashamed of."
"Why do they want me here?"
"I can't answer that. It feels cruel, but Mr Thayer will do what he wants, and we all jump when he demands. You'll sit here and do your jumping, and when they're done with you, we'll make sure you land on your feet."
"I'll settle for a wash. But one without running water."
"I'm sure we could run you a bath."
"Who needs a bath?" Porter calls from the doorway.
"Young Nico here," Gladys answers for me.
"I do not." Too much water and too much attention. "I am capable."
"How about we go to the pool?" Knox suggests, offering more attention than I want or need. "It's a big open space, and Nico can enter as much as he wants. I think the important thing is feeling happy with water, rather than washing."
"I do not seek to be bother."
"Porter can lend you a swimsuit, so you don't have to worry about stripping."
"I do-"
Porter runs off before my protests make it beyond my lips.
"Please do not fuss."
"You deserve it, Nico." Knox takes my hand, smiling at me like I could belong here. That smile will change when he hears the truth about me.
"I know this feels odd, and no one can explain to you where this will take us when you are recovered. But I give you my word you can count on this until that time."
"Does this must be with the pool?" I hate how my words muddle when I get stressed. I shouldn't make mistakes after so long living here in England.
"Like I said, you can get as wet as you want."
"If I not want?"
"That is the whole point."
Then I will indulge them. There is no leaving the family. I will jump through their hoops, like Gladys says, and hope I have something left to go back to when they are bored of me.
Chapter fifty-one
Porter
Nico's grip on my hand tightens as we enter the pool room. Knox has the lights turned down, and Caeo is sitting on the side with Gladys drinking a cup of tea. Swimming has never felt like a spectator’s activity to me, I use the water to protect my practically naked body from view. Being seen in skimpy shorts is something I do just for the leery drunk punters. The ones who think they've got permission to see with their hands. Getting to and from the water was always a hurried affair. My sister had a shapely body, right from an early teen and I was always a stick insect. Her confident walk to the pool made me feel bad.
