Page 20 of Fractured Future
So why him? Why now?
Tying myself in mental knots while Blaine continues working, I can’t find a viable explanation. I’ve never met thisman. Not once. He’s a total stranger, offering me a chance at salvation.
“What’s the plan, boss?” a voice shouts from up front.
“Near Acapulco airport like we discussed,” Blaine calls back.
“Coming up.”
“Airport?” I jerk in surprise.
“Still,” he snaps. “Last one.”
“I don’t have a passport!”
“I said still! For fuck’s sake, Ember.”
The use of my real name is equivalent to being sucker-punched all over again. I hate the way he cherishes each syllable, letting them roll off his tongue in a sensual, whiskey-smooth drawl.
“There.” Blaine catches the bandage that Raye tosses him then begins to wind it around my arm. “You’re clean.”
“Fantastic,” I hiss out.
Sitting back on his haunches, he trails a critical eye over me. “How badly are you hurt? Those bruises look pretty bad.”
“Had worse.”
“Don’t fucking tell me that.”
A raspy chuckle pulls from my lips. “Why do you care?”
Ignoring my challenge, Blaine tips his head towards Raye. “Check to make sure nothing’s broken. This doesn’t work if she’s dead before they arrive.”
“I’m no doctor,” she argues. “Or at least I’m a severely underpaid one.”
“Do you ever shut up?”
Flipping him off, she knee-walks across the cramped space to reach for me. I ball my busted hands into fists at my sides to stop myself from hitting the sour-faced bitch.
“This isn’t your first rodeo.” She probes my stomach, watching my reaction. “Not even a flinch.”
“Look where you found me,” I growl at her.
“Hard to tell without an X-ray, but I’d expect more swelling by now if you had a fracture. You are bruising bad, though.”
“Then stop poking me, dammit!”
Raising her hands in surrender, Raye pulls back. “Want to show me your back?”
“Not a fucking chance. You’ll stick a knife in it.”
“Whatever.” Her tone is thick with sarcasm. “She’ll live, Blaine. Nothing a personality transplant won’t fix.”
“Then go sit up front,” he orders.
Raye clambers to her feet, disappearing between the seats to find an empty space. Blaine shakes his raven head at her retreat then stretches out a hand in offering to me.
I reluctantly accept, allowing him to slowly pull me upright. It causes more tears to spring into my eyes when I twist to rest my back against the wall, but I keep my teeth gritted tight.
