Page 19 of Sleeper

“For the record, you don’t have to apologize for hugging people. At least not me. I think I needed a hug. I thought you killed people or at least wanted people to think you do. That was the vibe I got in Tennessee.” My hands bounced up and down as I weighed my options. I didn’t have to tell her anything, but Ghoul wanted her to trust me and the only way I knew to earn someone’s trust was to give the same thing to them.

“I do, but I also heal them.”

“I’m not sure I understand what you mean.”

“I work as a nurse, and I kill people when I have to.”

“Wait.” She chewed on the corner of her mouth as she walked the length of my living room. “You’re a nurse.”

“Yeah, I know I’m a nurse and I’m a man…who happens to kill people. It’s a contradiction, I know. I’m a magical murderous unicorn.” I was talking out of my ass; this wasn’t the first and wouldn’t be the last time someone reacted this way when I told them what I did for a living.

“No that’s not the part that I’m stuck on.” Her feet stilled and she chewed on the other side of her mouth, making another lap around my living room.

“Well, are you going to tell me what is?”

“Okay. I’m going to continue to be honest, because I think you’re trying to be the same with me and I don’t have a fucking friend in the world to confide in,” she vowed, sitting on my couch before she crossed her legs under her body. “I have to talk to someone, or I’ll bust. If you double-cross me, I’ll dig your eyes out with a spoon.”

I laughed at the thought of someone her size doing that to me, but she was dead serious, so I dialed my laughter back a few notches. “I’ll make you a deal. If you’re honest with me, I’ll return the favor.”

“Deal.” She patted the seat beside her, and I climbed over the back of the couch and dropped onto the cushion right by her side.

“Is your dad Willie?”

I bit the inside of my cheek, knowing that was the exact question someone would ask if they were seeking revenge from something he’d done. I was a man of my word, and she could try to take me down, but wouldn’t succeed. I was a good foot taller than she was.

“Okay. Don’t hate me for asking. I swear I have a point,” she blubbered when I didn’t answer right away, templing her fingers in front of her face. “He is, isn’t he?”

I nodded.

“Shit. Is your sister alright?”

My eyes blinked slowly in disbelief. Perhaps I misjudged her. I was on the defense immediately. If she hurt Belle, I would gut her right here, right now. There would be no stopping myself.

“What do you know about my sister? What did you do to her?” My hands tightened into fists, and I pushed my knuckles against each other to keep from grabbing her and shaking her until I got answers. If she knew something about Belle that I didn’t, I had to remain calm to get it. If I killed her, the information she had died with her.

“I didn’t do shit. That’s the problem, Sleeper.” My fingers uncoiled and I rolled my shoulders, repeating to myself over and over that I couldn’t lose my shit right now. We were alone and if I lost my temper there wasn’t anyone here to pull me off her.

“I’m not sure I follow you.”

“The night we left, your sister had stormed through the house. I asked your dad if she was coming with us, and he said you were going to pick her up after your shift. I’m so sorry. He seemed so proud of you working as a nurse, so fucking earnest that I believed him even when I knew better. I never trusted him, but I couldn’t let Kenzi go across state lines with him by herself. I was afraid she’d never come back. But I guess she didn’t anyway, so if I would have said no, maybe your sister would still be here.”

“Fuck. That’s a lot to take in.” I exhaled. “Hold on. Do you think my sister is dead?”

“I have no clue, but I shouldn’t have left her even if she didn’t want us in her house.” Her eyes focused on her hands, and she swallowed hard.

“Belle is fine, but I can’t say the same about the couch.”

“The couch?”

“Erm, yeah.” My hand rubbed the back of my neck. I didn’t mean to mention the couch. “Belle ripped it open with a knife, looking for her locket.” I laid it all out. There wasn’t any point to start lying to her now. It was like I looked into her amber eyes and forgot I didn’t have a problem lying to people. “I guess we’re both at fault, here. If I hadn’t stashed our guns in the house, a lot of this could have been prevented.”

“That makes sense.” She nodded.

“It does?” My head tilted to the side, wondering which part she was talking about.

“The locket. Your dad said it used to belong to his wife. Who’s the lady in the photo?”

“My mom,” I said, not needing to look at the picture inside to find the answer.

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