Page 77 of Assassin

Poe knew that feeling.

“There’s nothing like a good soak to make you feel better,” he admitted. “It’s a little luxury that I will never take for granted.”

He didn’t reply.

It was clear Gamble wasn’t a man of many words.

Poe made sure he was okay, and that Gamble’s bandaged arm was on the ledge of the tub.

When Poe went to move away, Gamble moved fast and grabbed his arm.

Poe gasped.

“Please don’t leave me in here. I can’t bear to be in a bathroom for long—let alone a bath tub.”

And that’s when he got it.

Shit.

He’d not even considered that. Maybe he should have just held him up in a shower.

Poe tried to reassure him.

“I’m not leaving you. I’m going to the medicine cabinet and I’m going to get some shaving cream and a razor. I want to help you.”

He released his arm.

“I can shave myself. Just give me the razor.”

Oh, he was a funny, funny man.

Yeah, no.

Poe was honest.

“After the lighter incident, Mr. Holloway, you’re going to have to prove to me that you won’t slice your throat and die. Until I can make sure you won’t harm yourself, I can’t let you have the razor. Maybe in a few weeks.”

He stared into Poe’s eyes.

“Wise choice.”

While that sounded like a threat, Poe wasn’t sure it was. Honestly, he believed Gamble to be a danger to himself, not others.

As he grabbed the shaving cream, he found a razor, and headed back toward him. Poe made sure to put the razor just out of his reach.

He squirted some into his hands, and then rubbed them together.

“No offence, Gamble, and I hope you don’t get angry with me, but I’ll be shaving you. When you want me to, just ask. I don’t mind.”

Gamble tried to laugh.

Only, it was empty and hollow.

“You’re a smart man, Doctor Seville,” he said. “Has anyone told you that?”

Oh, many had.

The problem with that was you lived in your own head and the minds of the damaged. Only, no one prepared him for Gamble Holloway.

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