Page 64 of Slaughtered Firefly
“No worries, It’s the face, no one can resist it,” he stroked his beard and made the classic think face before chuckling out,“Kidding, it’s most definitely the dick, have to swat those greedy cunts away or risk losing an eye, I’m very fond of my eyes you see.” My eyes automatically rolled down his physique to see the outline of a bulge and I snapped my eyes back to his. The vulgarity in which he talked made me forget my circumstances. Just something about how he defused the situation made me relax just a bit.
I laughed nervously as he dawned some gloves and examined the fingers on my wounded hand. “It’s definitely not the sun god looks—maybe the hair,” I replied. This cocky doctor was something else. He knew he had the looks and charm on his side. It must have gotten him far in life, and I couldn’t blame him for using it to his advantage.
“The students seem to think I’m some Apollo personified but I don’t see it, sun never shines brighter for me,” His words were cool, measured, with a little hint of something else. I wasn’t sure exactly what. I barely noticed when he stuck the needle in my hand what I did notice was the absence of pain. My mouth went dry at the relief.
“You are something else that’s for sure,” I licked my lips, wetting them. Karter took every apprehension out of the air and made it his own personal mission to comfort. It was something I hadn’t felt in ages, and yet it felt like home.
“Well you know what they say,” he smirked as he started stitching my wound closed. I blinked in amazement that he was just so casual.
“What do they say?” The words left my mouth before my mind could process.
“What’s the point in living if you can’t fuck your way through the rough days along with the great days,” his laughter boomed across the room, and I couldn’t help but join in. He returned to his stitches after a few moments and I couldn’t help the smile that crossed my face whenever he’d make another commentabout work or his students. “Alright let’s get you a cast, just remember you can’t rub one out with this plaster of paris it’ll hurt like a bitch or so I’m told,” he shrugged.
Karter grabbed the fish-netting stuff from his tray, sliding it in my hand and then slid the cotton pads on. His hands moved in a way that told me he’d had his fair share of casting broken bones and once he angled my hand in the proper position, he started rolling the wet material around. I watched in awe; it was the first time anyone had actually given me a cast for a broken bone. Once he was done and the plaster had dried, he slipped something metallic into the edge of my cast.
“What’s — ”
“Ah something for later, remember don’t mutilate them if you can but enough damage will cause a bleed out.” Karter’s voice was low and serious now, it was a jarring difference but I blinked at him in confusion.
“Okay?”
He slapped me on the shoulder as the doors to the other room opened and a disheveled Shaw came walking in. Melody, a few steps behind, looked like she’d won that argument.
“Is he done?” Shaw ground out.
“Just about, remember they are responsible for more than swimming,” he winked at me and saluted towards Shaw in mock respect.
“Thanks professor, I’ll get your bill settled and walk you out,” Melody swayed her hips and looped his arm in hers as they walked together. Shaw huffed a long sigh and jerked me out of my seat. It finally rang a bell where I had seen Karter before. He was the professor at the University where Melody worked. The library was probably where most of his students lived. Something told me he was a hard ass when it came to assignments. I watched them walk out together, laughing about an oversized cat. You could tell their friendship stretched deep,and I had a pang of jealousy. I wanted that with her. I craved the normalcy of it. Shaw was unusually moody. I knew by watching their interactions that they both shared a past. Hell, it was probably just as fucked up as everyone else’s past.
“Come on we have a good little walk down,” Shaw’s voice held that unnerving glee. That same glee when he caught Cole, Summer and me together. I shuddered at the sudden cold in the air as we walked down the halls to the stairwell.
39
SCARS
Present day
Iwoke up to the smell of pasta cooking, my stomach growled loudly, and I groaned as my head pounded. I reached my hand to check my head for a gash, but stopped short. The chain of the handcuffs prevented me from extending my hand. I cursed, pulling against the chain, but it didn’t budge.
“Oh great your awake, you know for a skinny little woman you weigh a ton when your out cold,” Dustin commented, a plate of pasta in his hand. He took a chair, put it in front of me and sat down. My eyes tracked the pasta as it slid to one side, the white sauce coating the side of the bread. He took a bite of the bread and groaned as he chewed.
“It’s good food, you want some?” he offered after he swallowed. I didn’t respond; I just hung there against the wall watching. It was as if he knew I wasn’t going to budge. After a few moments of my continued, stares I groaned.
“Fucking feed me. I am starving,” I caved. I needed the food, and the pasta from an Italian mafia man was otherworldly, or so I heard.
“Now be careful, it’s hot,” he said as he held the fork spun perfectly with the noodles and sauce that was almost dripping on the floor. I opened my mouth; I was drooling at the smell alone. The last thing I had eaten was the burger from earlier, and I didn’t even finish it . It was a shame to waste good food. Dustin held the fork inches out of reach, and I almost cried. The bastard was teasing me.
“Please give me food,” I pleaded. I hated asking and begging for food; it brought back memories I did not want to revisit. I held my mouth open, and he slid the fork in. My lips automatically closed around and pulled the food off. The taste of the fettuccine was amazing. I had never had something so delicious in my life. I couldn’t help the moan that escaped as I chewed and swallowed. Dustin looked at me with cloudy eyes, like he was picturing our other times in life. I knew he was stillreeling from what I said as I attempted to bite back. He should know that his brother was the one who gave me the scars, even if he couldn’t admit it. It was his fault. It was strange to admit the man I had casually hooked up with was fromThe Sartori Sawtooth Mafia,but sometimes shit happens.
I opened my mouth as Dustin served me another bite of the orgasmic food.Like who the hell cooks that well?It was so fucking good; the rumors were true. He chuckled after I had consumed half the plate and the bread. I whined when he set the plate down, but he came back with a glass and tilted it into my mouth. The notes of alcohol hit my tongue, and I spit it out in his face. With the shock on his face, his hair dripping in wine, I couldn’t help the bellyaching laugh. “Oh God I am so sorry,” my laughter spilled out. Laughter in such a serious situation was never a good thing, but the look of betrayal as the wine splattered against him was too funny. “Geez, you think a guy would pay more attention on a first date,” I managed around my laughter. It wasn’t a date, but my mind couldn’t think that fast. It was like a wall came down, and I didn’t even notice. He’s a killer. He tried to kill you.
“You don’t drink,” he remarked after he wiped a towel over his face. He looked perplexed for a moment before his face paled. “You don’t drink because of what happened,” he said more seriously. I shrugged, not really sure of what to say in response. “I am sorry, it was stupid of me. Usually Chardonnaygoes well with the pasta, my mistake,” His tone was sincere, like he meant it. He gently dabbed the towel across my chin, cleaning up the wine. As an after thought he pulled off his shirt and tossed it over his head. The gesture was strange, as if he wanted to remove all traces of the alcohol from my senses. It was the first time anyone had been that caring. His bronze abs glowed in the dim light, as his tattoo stood out against his ribs. The man nevermissed a workout; that was clear, and I had to close my eyes and blink away the image.
“Thanks,” I managed after a moment. Dustin took a handcuff key and unlocked the chain around my wrist. There wasn’t any malice in his actions, like he truly cared about my mental wellbeing. I just sat there staring at him. “Why?” I whispered as a tear trailed down my cheek and spattered on the floor.
“I won’t be able to get the truth unless you give it willingly, I see that now. As much as I could keep you locked away, it wouldn’t help. Will you tell me?” Dustin’s voice broke, the fear crept in, he didn’t want to hear that his brother he thought was dead all this time was alive. He lived with grief so long that reality morphed his whole purpose in life. Purpose that was so focused on revenge, and now he wasn’t so sure.
I sat back against the wall and sighed, “It’s not a pretty story and I won’t sugar coat it.”
