Page 29 of Redd

I knew exactly what that look meant, and I didn't like it. He was seeing me as a threat, as a possible enemy. But I was determined to change that, I would make sure he knew that I wasn't the one he had to fear.

I was just a woman, a woman who had been resurrected from the grave because of him.

“Are you hungry?”

“Did you do this?” Running my hands over the blanket, I traced the large circle pattern, following the purple lines.

“You looked cold.” Glancing over his shoulder, he checked on the young girl, then looked back down at me. “I've got scrambled eggs if you want some.”

My face scrunched up tight, heart flickering with old pain. Just hearing the word egg made me cringe. I wanted nothing to do with another egg again in my life, not after what happened. “No,” I said sternly, shaking my head. “No eggs, no eggs ever.”

Angling his head, his brows furrowed in thought. “I've got cereal, I'll get you some of that.” Walking back to the kitchen, he pulled out a bowl from the cupboard over the stove.

Relief flooded my body when he didn't ask me any questions about why I reacted the way I did over an offer for food. I didn't want to have to explain, talk, or relive anything I had been through in that house.

The less questions the better.

Small eyes peered at me through the window that opened into the living room from the kitchen. The young girl had big curls in her rich black hair that were wild and messy, untamed in every way.

She couldn't have been more than twelve years old, her curiosity a painted expression in her big brown eyes.

“Vicki, stop staring and turn around.”

“Who is she, Redd?”

Redd. . . My savior's name is Redd.

“I told you not to ask me that anymore.”

“Fine, I'll stop.” Pursing her small lips, her eyes squinted up tight. “Maybe she's a runaway mental patient from the insane asylum.”

“Seriously? What the hell have you been watching?” His lip curled up toward his nose, head tilting into his shoulder. “Just turn around and eat.”

“But—” she whined, frowning deep.

“Eat.” Pointing his spatula at the table, he gave her a stern look.

“Fine,” the young girl groaned, turning on her feet and dropping back into the chair. Lifting her hands to her ears, she plugged them up with a set of ear buds.

From where I was sitting, I could see her wild curls puffing up, rocking and flopping as she bobbed her head to the beat.

Walking back into the living room, he held out his arm with a bowl of cereal. “Here, eat up. It looks like you could use it.”

“So your name's Redd?” Reaching out, I gripped the bowl and placed it in my lap.

Our fingers gently brushed causing a wave of goosebumps to rush over my skin. Redd's eyes flickered, tongue softly licking his bottom lip. Something fired off between us, and he felt it too. But I couldn't place it, I couldn't label what had swept over me like a cold ocean breeze.

It was just there.

Taking in a deep breath, he jerked his hand away and ran it through his hair. “Yeah, that's what they call me.”

He started to walk away, but I stopped him with a question. “How long have I been here?”

Glancing over his shoulder, his lips thinned. “Two days.”

“Two days? Why did you let me sleep so long?”

Shrugging his shoulder, he kept his body turned towards the kitchen. “I figured you needed it.” Lengthening his leg, he started forward again.

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