Page 28 of Wrecked

“You are my business.”

“Walk the fuck away,” Rebel snarled and clenched the fist of his free hand. The hand holding the gun stayed steady.

The woman had stopped sobbing when he entered and now looked scared from him to Rebel. The person Rebel had been pointing the gun at was in fact an older man, probably the woman’s husband.

Crow felt sick at what Rebel was doing and now he had doubts over his belief that Rebel had not been out here killing innocent people.

However, he was not walking the fuck anywhere and he advanced on Rebel until the barrel of the gun was pressed to his chest.

“Is this who you fucking want to be?” Crow snarled down into Rebel’s face. A look of agony swept over the young man’s face.

“Look at her. He’s taking everything they have.” Crow bit out the words.

A sheen hit the teenager’s eyes and Crow saw the war going on inside, but this was one decision he couldn’t make for Rebel.

The young assassin was on the verge of self-discovery.

“Do the right thing, wake the fuck up,” Crow finished roughly.

Rebel glared at him, lowered the gun, and walked out the back door.

“Here,” Crow said, removing a couple of hundred dollars from his wallet.

Over the past month, he had started carrying cash. And it had nothing to do with wanting to give Rebel enough to survive if he didn’t want to come in.

The woman blinked at him and burst into tears. The man jumped up from the table and rushed around to hug her, saying thank you to Crow over and over.

Crow walked out the back door.

He had given Rebel enough time to disappear.

Only, Rebel hadn’t run.

Standing in the weed-filled backyard, Rebel had tucked away the weapon and wrapped his arms around himself. The thin, long-sleeved black t-shirt did nothing to keep the man warm.

Sliding off his coat, he slid the dark ultra-light down jacket around Rebel’s shoulders, pushed the guy’s arms into the holes, and zipped it up to Rebel’s neck. It was miles too big, but it was warm.

Rebel stood as if in a trance, watching him with those big dark eyes. The lamppost from the alley behind the home gave off a glow that gave Crow enough light to see Rebel’s face.

Crow sighed and stepped back. Confusion covered Rebel’s face.

“Where do we go from here?” Crow asked gently.

“Aren’t you going to knock me out? Lock me up?” Rebel asked in a suddenly dull tone.

“No, we’re not doing that this time around.”

“We’re not?” Rebel’s eyes searched his face and it was everything Crow could do not to fidget.

His stomach fluttered.

What the fuck was that?

Crow scowled and rubbed at his chest.

“So again, where do we go from here?” Crow said. Only this time, the words were softer.

Rebel drew in a deep breath and moved one hand through the air as he spoke. “If you help me with something, I’ll go back to the ranch with you.”

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