Page 73 of Bones
She leaned on the counter, watching me with a sharp light in her blue eyes. “Zip,” she said like I was stupid.
“I’m not talking to you about Zip,” I said through my teeth.
“You know most people just go to the brothel when they want to get laid,” she continued like I hadn’t said anything.
The fury that rushed through me broke through my self-control. “I don’t go to fucking brothels where most of the workers there don’t have any other choice.”
She raised an eyebrow, her voice taunting. “Oh, I touched a nerve. Guess you would know since you were Juck’s whore.”
I flinched and hated that I showed that weakness in front of her. “Get out,” I snapped.
“Make me,” she sneered.
I whipped around to face her, fury blinding me, but the door abruptly opened, and Sam entered. He scanned both of us, quickly reading the energy in the room, and then strode forward to grab Raven by the arm.
“Alright, I’m relieving you of guard duty,” he said firmly, pulling her toward the door.
Raven jerked free. “Fine. I have better things to do anyway.”
She slammed the door hard, making the windows rattle. I turned my back on Sam and went back to washing my clothes, trying to blink back furious tears. I heard Sam slowly approach.
“What’d she say?” he asked sharply.
“Doesn’t matter,” I muttered without turning around.
“Shortcake, that’s?—”
“I’m not talkin’ about it,” I interrupted. “Leave me alone.”
“Bones—”
“Goaway,Sam,”I tried to say fiercely, but my voice broke, which Ihated.
After a brief silence, he let out a heavy sigh. “Alright. I’ll be outside.”
I waited until I heard him walk to the door and step outside, shutting it softly behind him. In the silence, I gingerly touched the horrible brand hiding under my shirt. The hot, angry tears escaped, and I let them fall. I hated Raven, but she spoke the truth. I'd never be able to escape the things Juck had done to me. Even if he hadn't marked his cruelty into my skin, he'd left scars on my very soul.
* * *
“Angel!”
My spine went rigid, but I didn’t turn around from the stall of fresh herbs at the market. I recognized Megs’ voice. She still came around every so often, trying to get into the clinic to see me. Sometimes she made it inside, but most of the time whoever guarded the clinic told her to get lost.
“Angel, please! I beg you for your blessing!”
At my side, Sam snorted. “How come you never ask me for a blessing, Megs?”
In the silence, I could just imagine her blinking owlishly in confusion.
“The gods have sent—” she tried.
“Yeah, yeah,” Sam interrupted, “we know the spiel. Sorry, we’re fresh outta blessings. Come back next week.”
I stood frozen, holding a sprig of mint and listening for the sound of her footsteps drawing nearer. Instead, I heard her mumble something and shuffle away. I glanced at Sam, unable to hide my surprise.
“What?” he said. “I know how to de-escalate a situation.”
I raised my eyebrows.
