Page 46 of Assassin

Standing beside his chair to let Gamble lean on him, Poe just held him. Gamble cried into the good linen of his suit.

“I don’t know how to do both,” he whispered. “I can’t get past that hate.”

Poe held his head to his hip, as he let the man mourn a little more.

“Let me help you. Do you want me to help you, Gamble?” he asked.

He looked up.

“I want to make the pain stop.”

Oh, he understood that pain. It was time for Poe to share a little in hopes of making a connection with the man.

“My brother was a soldier in the Queen’s army. He was in Afghanistan, and he died there. I was so angry for a very long time. I couldn’t save him. I can save you, Gamble. Let me save you. Give me two months, and if at the end of those two months, you still want to die, I’ll help you.”

Gamble stared into his eyes as he looked up at him. Finally, someone was hearing him. All he wanted was to check out and get free of this pain. If this man could help him do that, he’d take a chance.

“Promise?” he asked.

This was a risk, but Poe knew his skills. He had no doubt that he could save him. This was going to be a success story. Would he ever marry again or have kids?

That he couldn’t venture to answer, but he’d be alive to fight another day.

“I promise.”

Gamble closed his eyes.

“I will give you two months then.”

That was all he had to hear.

“They start now. Let’s get you into some shoes, and a shirt. We’re going to get out of here. We’ll take a little drive and get you situated.”

He was curious.

“Am I going to the hospital?” Gamble asked, knowing he wouldn’t get better there with the shit medical help, but he’d hold out for two months.

To die.

What was two more months of anguish anyway? It wasn’t like he had anything else planned.

As he sat in the chair, Poe knelt in front of him, and got him into some socks. As he laced up his sneakers, he was already planning on just bringing the man to his place, and ordering him things.

Leaving it all behind would be for the best.

For now.

“No, we’re going somewhere private where we can intensively work on your anger and rage. The hospital is the worst place for you.”

Why?

Because he’d slip under the radar and be gone before anyone knew it.

When Poe got up, he held out his hand, and waited for Gamble to take it.

“You can trust me. For the next two months, I’m going to be your lifeline and I won’t drop you.”

What choice did he have?

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