Page 53 of Wings of Torment
We drag Roderick inside to an empty room where Zeke dumps him unceremoniously into a corner before searching his still form. I ignore him in favor of scoping out the place. He can handle the unconscious murdering angel, and I’ll make sure we’re not about to get ambushed. Luckily, the rest of the rooms are empty, minus a few unpacked boxes and garbage.
When I look back, Zeke is holding an unfamiliar blade.
“Uh … is that what I think it is?” I whisper, keeping my voice low like I’ll avoid waking the knocked-out piece of shit on the floor.
“Better in our hands than his.” He attaches the holster to his jeans before carefully slotting the blade into place and covering it once more with his shirt. He moves so fast that I don’t have time to really examine it.
“So, did you have a plan for after you knocked him out cold, or was that it?”
“Not to be rude,” he starts, but I know far too well that when someone says that it’s usually followed by something dickish. “But it’s not like you had a better idea. Now we have the blade in our possession, and when this fucker wakes up, I’ll convince him to give me some answers.”
“And how exactly do you intend to convince the murdering traitor to spill all his secrets, Zeke? Use some sick torture methods from the Guild?”
“If it comes to that. Look, when he wakes, I want you to stand watch at the door.”
“Hell no. I’m not leaving you alone with—”
“I’m a trained Guild intern. I can handle myself. What I can’t handle is having this disgusting piece of filth see your face and know who you are.”
An exasperated sigh leaves my lips and I start pacing.What a dick.This guy shows zero fucking mercy, and Zeke wants to convince him to help us while I sit outside like a prissy little girl? The plan is idiotic, and he’s an asshole for asking me to hide.
I don’t know how much time has passed before Roderick finally stirs, shifting his bound arms uncomfortably.
“Go, please,” Zeke asks quietly, his eyes filled with enough emotion that I can’t argue.
I think it’s the first time I’ve seen him look scared. Or maybe not the first time. After the attack at SCU, he watched me like a hawk. Is this why he wants me out of the room? Not because he thinks I can’t handle it, but because he wants toprotectme. Ugh. Why can’t he just come right out and tell me how he feels or what he’s thinking?
I stand with my back against the wall of the hallway, listening for any sign of a struggle. I’ll hide out here like a good little girl, if that’s what Zeke wants, but if it sounds like he needs my help, even for a second, I’m going in.
“You’ve made a big mistake, little boy,” Roderick snarls.
“Yeah? Why’s that?” Zeke replies, his voice devoid of emotion.
“You’re sticking your head in where it doesn’t belong. The last angel who did that lost his life. Do you really want to share his fate?”
Zeke laughs. “You realize you’re handcuffed and I’m the one standing free, right?”
“Cocky, cocky. Not to worry. I’ll be out of here soon, and then we’ll see who’s laughing.”
“While we wait for your daring escape, why don’t you explain your involvement in the theft of a Guild armory?”
Roderick sucks in a breath. “There’s been a theft at the Guild? This is certainly the first I’m hearing about it,” he says, his tone full of false surprise.
“Cut the shit. Where can I find the items you stole?”
“If I did steal anything, and I didn’t, I probably wouldn’t tell the guy who has me handcuffed, would I? But I might have dropped off a few things of my own in your mama’s wet cunt.”
There’s athumpfollowed by the sound of someone spitting. Good. I hope Zeke made him bleed for that comment.
“Listen,” Roderick says, sounding bored. “This has been fun and all, but I grow tired of your childish questions.”
Before Zeke can even respond, there’s a loud popping sound, followed by the jangling of metal. Things take a turn for the worse after that. There’s a scuffle and a few grunts, but I can’t figure out who’s winning the fight from my stupid place hiding outside the room.
I’ll give him another minute to get his shit together and then, after that, I’m going in. I’d rather have this piece of shit see me than lose Zeke.
Who am I kidding? I barely make it another thirty seconds. After a few loud crashes from the other room, I dash around the corner and come to a complete halt.
Zeke has Roderick in a hold. One arm loops around his throat, the opened end of the handcuffs held tight in his grip and pulling Roderick’s arm back in an incredibly uncomfortable way. But it’s Zeke’s other hand that has me stopped in my tracks.
