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Hammer motioned for Charlie to come from her hiding place. When she did, she slipped her hand into his. Hammer flinched.
“I’m not going to be able to keep going much longer. I’ll need some support.”
Hammer gritted his teeth. “There’s a town up ahead. We’re going to rest for the night. Let’s go.”
Charlie slumped against him. Hammer let her hand go and had to throw his arm around her shoulders to help Charlie walk. Magic prickled as he pushed a small amount of heat out from himself to keep her from frostbite. At least, that’s what he reasoned himself with.
When they got to the town, Hammer looked around. It had once been so familiar. Ten years inside a prison changed so many things. The town was thriving once, now mostly deserted. Windows were shattered, and boards were falling off the sides of some of the buildings. It looked like life had vanished from the town.
Hammer wasn’t surprised with it being in the southern region. He had heard stories while he was in prison. The people in charge … Ajmal’s people … raped everything they could for power. “Come on. I know a place,” Hammer muttered to Charlie.
At least, he hoped it was still open.
As they turned the corner down one street in the center of town, Hammer saw the inn that an old friend owned.
His eyes raked over the red building, it looked dilapidated and closed, but the small emerald light in the front window was Hammer’s sign that they were still open. Mostly to seedier people, but it would work for what they wanted.
“Stay behind me,” Hammer ordered Charlie as they walked through the door.
The manager was surprised to see Hammer but didn’t chat very much. Charlie did try to peek her head out from behind, but Hammer pushed her back.
They got a key and walked into the room without another word.
“Go take a shower. You stink,” Hammer said, and he threw a towel at her. “They’re sending clothes up for you to change into.”
Charlie didn’t look offended. In fact, she looked like she was amused by his statement. Instead of saying anything, she went into the shower, and Hammer heard the water turn on.
He grimaced at the thought of her wet and naked and shook the idea away.
Soon, a knock had him springing off the bed.
When Hammer opened the door, a young man lifted up a tray with something steaming that resembled food. He sniffed at it. Couldn’t smell any poison. He placed the tray and took the bag out of the kid’s hands.
Charlie turned off the water and came out of the shower with the towel wrapped around her. Hammer did his best to avoid looking at her.
He threw the bag of his clothes at Charlie. “Get dressed.”
Hammer looked up just to see her smooth legs as she turned to go back into the bathroom.
“Keep it together,” he muttered.
Hammer ran his hand through his hair and shook himself like a dog shedding drops from the rain.
“Get through this, and you can have all the whores you want. No commitment. No muss. No fuss.” Even as he made that promise to himself, it sounded empty.
“Eat,” Hammer said as soon as Charlie came out of the bathroom dressed and clean. He pointed to the bowl of whatever was steaming … it did not resemble food … but it would keep her sustained until she was back in safe territory.
He grabbed a blanket off the bed and laid it on the floor.
Charlie looked up from the bowl. “I don’t mind if you sleep in the bed with me. I don’t bite, and there’s plenty of room.”
“No. Finish eating, then go to bed. We have to move again in a few hours.”
Before he knew it, Charlie was in bed and breathing heavily. He quickly nodded off to sleep as well.
SEVEN
CHARLIE
