Page 42 of The Devil's Weakness

Maybe heisa doctor. That’s a scary thought. Dr. Kevorkian, maybe.

“Got it.” Blade nods his head.

“Make sure you put plenty of ointment on it, too—”

“I got it,” Blade grits through his teeth, dismissing Hawk.

Hawk throws his hands up and backs away. Tucking the first aid kit under his arm, Blade stands up and offers me his hand.

“Can you stand?”

I nod my head and take his hand. His skin burns against mine when we touch, and our eyes meet again. Holding each other’s gaze for a moment longer than intended, he pulls me up from the floor. With my hand still in his, he leads me back into the bathroom, where I wash and dry my hands. Then he takes me back to the basement. I couldn’t stand the thought of being back down here a few minutes ago, but now, being away from everyone else, I welcome it.

If I have to be here, I don’t want to be around anyone else. The least of which is Stone. Blade puts the first aid kit down on the workbench halfway between the stairs and the cell.

“Come here,” he instructs, and I stand in front of the workbench.

I gasp when he puts his hands around my waist and hoists me up onto the surface. Nearly eye-to-eye with him now, I meet his steel grey stare. It’s still filled with anger, but I also see a hint of concern.

He takes my hand in his and looks it over.

“What happened?” he questions, opening an alcohol wipe.

“I crashed into the table in the hallway and cut it on the corner.”

“I gathered that much.” He hits me with a small grin that makes my heart beat a little faster. Hardass or not, there’s no denying he’s even nicer to look at when he’s smiling. “I meant, how did this all start?”

“Oh,” I begin. “One of your brothers, I guess, came down here—”

“Who?” he demands. His smile evaporates into thin air, and anger returns to his stare.

“I—I’m not sure. He looked very young.”

The deep sigh of relief he breathes can’t be missed.

“Kid.”

“Hmm?” I ask, confused.

“His name. It’s Kid.”

“Oh, okay,” I smile. “Makes sense. He looks like he’s barely out of school.”

“He never finished school, but yeah. He’s young. Hence the nickname.”

“Got it.” I nod my head in understanding.

“Sorry, you can continue,” he urges as he cleans the area around my cut with the wipe.

“He brought me some toast for breakfast. Before he could leave, I asked him if I could use the bathroom. When he brought me upstairs, Stone got angry with him.”

“I’ll bet he did,” Blade agrees.

Would Blade have let me use the bathroom if I asked him? I thought he would have, but now I don’t know.

“When I was finished…” I trail off.

Blade stops what he’s doing but doesn’t let go of my hand. He watches me, waiting to find out what happened next.

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