Page 54 of Assassin

Poe took a chance.

“How about after you eat, we get you showered and shaved, and then, we see the horses? I’ll get them back into their stables for you.”

Gamble shook his head.

Poe really believed he was going to say no, depriving himself of that little pleasure.

Only, he’d been wrong.

“I’m going to need to sleep a bit,” he said. “After that, can we see the horses?” Gamble asked, quietly.

Okay, that was a good sign.

He placed his hand over Gambles, and gave it a squeeze.

“Absolutely, Mate. Let me know when you’re ready to shower, and I’ll show you to your room.”

Gamble nodded and worked on his toast. He ate it, and then moved onto his coffee. It took both hands to hold the coffee mug.

From where he sat, Poe was pleased with the progress so far.

But he knew the truth.

Gamble was his own obstacle. If he didn’t want to get better, there was no way he could make that happen.

They’d lose him.

Poe would lose his first soldier.

That didn’t sit well with him.

At all.

Chapter Four

At The Same Time

Gamble Leaving

Chartres Street

Thursday

Oh, it was difficult to watch. Jagger stood in the doorway and watched as the man pulled away with their friend. All that he could hope and wish for was that Gamble would get better so they could see him prosper again.

Watching him self-destruct wasn’t making it easy for anyone. It was painful.

Truth be told, they wanted the best for him, and that meant living. If he died, they’d all miss him in their lives. Gamble mattered.

He mattered to them.

Most of them had already lost too many friends in their lives, and they really wanted Gamble to make a comeback.

It was always in him to do it.

And they knew it.

Now, they had to put their faith in the doctor who Elizabeth had paid to take care of their brother. Poe Seville was the man’s last chance.

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