Page 8 of Breaker

She tensed. “So you know everything?”

I shrugged. “Not exactly. I know your name, who your uncle is, and we have speculated as to why you were living on the streets. But I won’t know the full truth unless you’re the one who tells it to me. And that’s only if and when you want to.”

She sighed and closed her eyes a moment. When she opened them again, she seemed resigned to her fate. “Can we talk about it later?”

I nodded. “Sure. I checked the sizes on your clothes. I’m afraid I had to throw them out afterward. But I bought you some new things. Had someone pick up an order from one of those big box stores nearby. They aren’t fancy, but they’re clean and should fit.”

She plucked at the front of the shirt covering her. “And this?”

“It’s mine, and before you freak out, I made sure to keep my gaze on your face the entire time I changed you. I didn’t see anything.”

Her cheeks flushed. Something told me she didn’t believe me. At least she wasn’t screaming or throwing a fit. She could have freaked the hell out and demanded to leave or told me to fuck off.

“Why do I feel like I can trust you?” she asked.

“I don’t know, but I promise you can. All I want is for you to get better and have a safe place to stay. Even gave you my room because it’s the best in the house.”

She bit her bottom lip, then winced as the skin broke open again. I dabbed the blood with a tissue. “Thanks.”

“I’m going to make you some soup. Bathroom is over there,” I said pointing to it, “and the clothes I bought are in the sacks on the dresser. I’ll give you some space. Just come to the kitchen when you’re ready.”

“All right.”

I left the room, closing the door behind me. Now that she was awake, things might be changing. What if she didn’t want our help? Although, I had a feeling if she knew her uncle was set to be released soon, she might stay here. I’d tell her everything I knew, then let her decide for herself.

Chapter Four

Juniper

I’d heard of the Hades Abyss before, but I’d never met any of them. To think one of them had saved me… I eyed the man who’d set the bowl of soup in front of me. He had kind eyes. It was something I’d learned to look for since living on the streets. Even when people smiled and offered help, their eyes often told a different story. But this one… he’d helped me because he genuinely wanted to. I could tell.

“Breaker is an unusual name,” I said.

He grinned at me over his cup of coffee. “It’s my road name. My real name is Teller, but no one calls me that anymore.”

Teller. I liked it. Too bad he didn’t want to use it.

“How did you find me?” I asked. I remembered being rather far down an alley. It didn’t seem like the type of place a normal person would decide to take a stroll, especially when it was snowing.

“I’m not entirely sure.” He frowned as he gazed at his cup. “I felt like I needed to go down the alley, almost like something was guiding me.”

“Are you trying to tell me God or a guardian angel led you to me?” I asked. I’d stopped believing in such things a long time ago.

“Not sure what to label it. I’ve been thinking more along the lines of fate. Maybe we were destined to meet.”

It made for a pretty story, but… it wasn’t likely. Then again, if he’d been compelled to find me, without having any other reason for going there, then maybe he was right and I was wrong.

I slowly ate the soup and tried to process everything. I’d fallen asleep, nearly frozen, in an alley and woke up in a soft bed in a warm home. My body still ached a bit, and my head hurt. But I was no longer coughing like I had been. Not as much anyway.

“So I’ve been here for a day?” I asked. He hesitated, and I knew instantly it had been longer. “Exactly how long have I been here?”

“This is the fourth day. Dread, he’s the club doctor, he’s been by every day twice a day to make sure you’re able to take some medication. If we hadn’t been able to get you to take it, he said something about running an IV.”

Wow. I must have been really sick. Then again, I’d thought I might die out there, so yeah… made sense. What didn’t was how comfortable I felt with this man. I’d never met him before. Strangers had always made me feel uneasy. Until this one.

“Something on your mind?” he asked.

“A lot, and nothing at the same time.”

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