Page 19 of Damaged

“How many people have you killed?” Rogue squinted at the sweaty boy.

Something dark swirled in Azrael’s eyes. “I can’t remember.” The words were hissed. “You should know, didn’t you keep track?”

Rogue paused for a split second and then swung the strap of the sword case over one shoulder.

Whatever words he could come up with right then wouldn’t change a fucking thing and none of it mattered.

What mattered was that heshouldhave done something, anything.

Azrael marched up to him and shoved him in the chest.

“Why didn’t you help us!”

Pain pierced his heart, and a burn hit his eyes. Rubbing a hand over his face, he turned away.

What could he say? That he thought Solomon was doing them a favor by taking them from the streets and giving them a place to sleep with food?

“Tell me, motherfucker!” Azrael’s voice lifted with rage.

It was better this way. Having Azrael angry at him was better than having the boy break down in tears.

Rogue walked out of the facility, further hardening his heart.

And the wreckage of his past followed him.

Wrath entered the room the minute Rogue left.

“Azrael,” he growled, and the boy swung toward him.

“What!” The word was snapped angrily.

“Rogue isn’t to blame.”

“But he could have saved us.”

“No, he couldn’t have. Do you remember how old you were when Solomon took you?”

“Yeah.” Azrael swallowed. “I was sixteen.”

“Rogue was six or seven when that sick fuck got ahold of him.” Wrath reached the boy and placed a hand on his shoulder.

“Rogue didn’t kill Ice when he had the chance,” Echo’s voice came from the doorway.

Azrael glanced over at Echo and sighed. “I didn’t mean it.” Wrath squeezed the teenager’s shoulder.

“There’s a book I want you to read,” Wrath said.

“What’s it about?” Azrael gazed up at him curiously.

“It’s about how people handle captivity differently.”

“I don’t want to read it, sounds boring. Can’t you just tell me?”

Wrath smirked at the boy’s typical teenager response. With a hand firmly on Azrael’s shoulder, he guided the boy over to sit at one of the tables just off the training mat. Echo joined them after snagging three sparkling waters from the mini-fridge.

“Do you know what Stockholm Syndrome is?” Wrath asked, popping the top of the can with a hiss and fizz.

Azrael’s head tipped in thought and he nodded. “It’s when someone trusts or loves the person who kidnapped them.”

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