Page 33 of Kage

The awkwardness between us was a decent defense mechanism. I didn’t need to get too close to her even in conversation. That’s what often got people killed.

“By the way, I think Tank needs to go to the bathroom.”

I almost laughed. Her fear and dislike of dogs was palpable, but she was paying attention to his bathroom needs. “Yeah, I guess.”

“Thank you for buying the clothes and shoes. And the food. I appreciate it.”

The angst in her tone yanked at my heart. I hated that more than I wanted to admit to anyone. I turned to face her, shocked how damn good she looked in the stupid clothes I’d grabbed. They’d been the first things I’d seen. She was fresh faced, no dirt, her long hair no longer matted. In the dim light created by dense foliage, she appeared so damn young and vulnerable. I was immediately thrown, forcing myself to look away.

“You’re bleeding. I need to look at your injuries.” I nodded to her knee.

I wasn’t surprised her sigh reflected the same frustration Gray had felt. “No big deal. I can do it. You’re busy.”

“I’m finished for now. I’ll need to make a few phone calls later so we can plan on getting out of here. Let me take Tank to the woods and I’ll be right back. I’m medically trained.”

“Is there anything you can’t do?”

As I looked at her, I could tell she had no better clue how to deal with me than I did with her. What I knew was that we weren’tgoing to be friends and certainly wouldn’t cross any other line. She was nothing more than a client I needed to protect at this point.

“I’ll be right back.” Tank didn’t waste any time, but it allowed me to ensure we weren’t about to be compromised. So far, the older man at the desk had kept his word. I’d pay him handsomely for it.

When I walked back inside, I found her staring at herself in the bathroom mirror.

“You don’t like me,” she said as soon as I walked in. She’d already grabbed the bag with the first aid items. I’d been lucky to find them, the shops in close proximity created for tourists, not locals.

“I don’t know you, Juliette.”

“That doesn’t mean you didn’t determine the kind of person I was from the first moment you laid eyes on me. Since you’re so damn good at everything you do, I’m certain you spent some time researching my family.”

“I did. Plus, your godfather told me what you both do for a living.” I pointed to the counter and she gave me a hard look reflected in the mirror. At least she finally hopped up on the edge.

“Let me guess. You’re making fun of me.”

“Not my place to make fun of anyone.”

Her look remained hard as I pulled out a few things.

“Don’t believe everything you read on social media. I’m not like my father.”

“And exactly what is your father like?”

“A man determined to run the lives of everyone he knows.”

I opened the hydrogen peroxide and pulled out a cloth, surprised but not shocked hearing her admittance. They were obviously two entirely different people. “Does that include you?”

She laughed bitterly. “Since the day my mother died, he’s been my greatest supporter and a smothering influence. And he hates what I do with a passion. He still thinks I’m a teenager requiring guidance.”

“Instead of a grown woman capable of making her own decisions.”

“At least you noticed.” She was teasing me. That was easy to detect.

I lifted my gaze. “This might sting.”

“I’m a big girl. I can handle it.” She winced slightly when I pressed the cloth against her knee.

There was no reason for or desire to get into a battle of wills. I was careful in my actions, feeling the weight of her heated gaze. Being this close was uncomfortable, the touch of her skin searing mine. “Did the men holding you say anything to you? You mentioned an auction.”

“One of the men who spoke English mentioned it and that I wasn’t supposed to be damaged. Some of the soldiers were foreign. A language I couldn’t understand, but maybe Middle Eastern. How they acted didn’t seem to make sense.”

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