Page 76 of Waiting Game

“No,” he chuckled, “you’re not.”

I shook my head again. If only he knew.

I didn’t feel a single thing during the fight with the lanky doctor, but I sure as fuck felt it afterwards.

“Fine,” I sighed, getting out of the car and heading towards the safehouse.

“Hey,” Toni called, as I put my hand on the doorknob, “let me know if you want to talk about it.”

I nodded, and opened the door.

“She’ll be safe, Ren,” he called after me again, “I promise.”

I nodded again and headed inside.

The house was exactly as I left it, still bare and dusty. It was hardly ever used, and it showed. I threw my bag down back into the corner of the room and immediately switched the television on. Silence was the last thing that I wanted. Silence would give an opportunity for my mind to wander. I knew that I would either end up feeling sorry for myself, or coming up with another elaborate plan to get Valerie to return.

* * *

Antoni thought better than to send Robbie as my babysitter again, and this time both Angel and Dimitri showed up at the safehouse. I stared straight ahead at the flickering TV screen as Dimitri kicked the door open, his hands full.

“We come bearing gifts!” he announced with a dramatic flair.

Angel thought that I didn’t notice him hiding his car keys, tucking them safely into the inner pocket of his jacket.

“Burgers and beer,” Dimitri smiled, dropping the bags at my feet.

I forced a smile in his direction, but turned my attention back to the screen. He dug through the plastic bags, pulling out a can and tossing it into my lap.

“Come on mate,” he urged, “if we all have to be here we might as well enjoy it.”

I rolled my eyes as he waved a burger under my nose.

“You know you want it,” he sang.

“Fine,” I said, snatching it from his hands.

“Atta boy,” he smiled, retrieving a tin of beer for himself, and throwing another over his shoulder in Angel’s direction. Angel didn’t flinch, keeping his arms crossed as he watched it fall to the floor in front of him with a frown. It hit the ground with a clatter and a hiss as the seal broke, and beer puddled around Angel’s feet.

“Did you really think that would work?” Angel asked, stepping backwards.

“Just testing your reflexes, brother,” Dimitri teased, tossing another at Angel with a little more precision. This time, he caught it easily.

“It’s my patience that you’re testing,brother,” Angel shot back.

Dimitri made kissy faces in Angel’s direction, and I saw the can in Angel’s hand twitch as he considered launching it at his head.

I had to laugh and shake my head.

Angel and Dimitri were polar opposites, though always forced together - especially now that I was out of action. Dimitri was usually latched to me, like a dog, but it seemed that Angel had now copped the massive responsibility that was Dimitri.

Like a dog, Dimitri was excitable, a little reckless, and didn’t always think things through. He was also endlessly loyal, clever, and had this keen ability to think on his feet. But he was still young, and he was still learning.

So I guess he was more like a puppy.

One skill in particular that was invaluable to The Family was his ability to blend in, and talk his way out of any situation. It was a certain type of confidence mixed with charisma that allowed him to exist in situations where maybe anyone else would have been noticed.

Angel, however, operated in a different way.

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