Page 68 of Cedar Edge
He gives a dark chuckle. “Yeah, and in all the years I’ve done this I’ve never seen someone go the Release route.” He finally turns to look at me, eyes wary with a deep exhaustion I’ve never seen on him. “They know how to rack up that debt, kid. So when I tell you to take care of your family I mean it.”
He doesn’t wait for me to respond before he’s heading off towards the rookie forcing me to sit with those words. Coming from someone like Chief, someone who’s been around for longer than anyone, they feel like a prophecy, my future read by some mystic in the circus.
The wind kicks up more smoke, the smell blanketing me as if it wants to smother me. The very air choking the life out of my body. All around the campsite guys pack up or unpack, rotating shifts as fresh blood is poured into the fire crew. Looking up at the sky the ominous orange color only adds to the deep unease I feel. This fire has no interest in being controlled. It’s outfor blood, it’s angry and wild and ready to rampage across the forest.
It feels symbolic.
I just don’t know if we are the fire.
Or Royce.
And it's that feeling that has me willing to go into debt further, because I need the guarantee thatweare the fire and not him.
Chapter Twenty-Seven
“There asphodels are scattered through the night, like ghosts of young beseeching hands.”
-Fez Inkwright,Botanical Curses and Poisons: The Shadow Lives of Plants-
Thea
Logan chuckles under his breath as he watches me nervously fiddle with the dress I had slipped on. Outside the weather had fully transitioned into the type of fall no one wanted to be outdoors in. Rain lashed against the side of the house in cold, wet sheets, and the wind howled through the cracks in the doors.
Law had left 30 minutes ago to pick up Ace from his ‘drop point’ post shift on the front lines. Again I wanted to ask if he had really been fighting fires or if it was just a cover. But instead I focused on my own nervous energy building up. No one but Logan had seen the tattoo yet, not for lack of trying on Law’s part that’s for damn sure. The man couldn’t seem to keep his hands off me and the amount of times Logan had to run interference and distract him was no doubt starting to raise suspicion.
“Tink, why are you so nervous?” He asks. The smell of his joint floats through the air as he sits on the opposite end of the living room. Between us the fireplace throws out warm waves of flickering light that dance over his face. I watch as he inhales another hit and my feet are clearing the distance before I second guess myself. I press my lips to his, stroking the seam with my tongue before he groans and he’s pushing the smoke into my mouth.
I hold it in as long as I can before my lungs start to burn and on an exhale I’m coughing. He laughs even as I cut him a dirty look. “What? That was fucking hot.” I go to grab the joint from his hand but he shakes his head. “This is strong shit Tink and I want you functioning tonight.”
My lips pull into a pout but my whine is cut off by headlights casting through the front windows. Logan is moving quickly and my heart kicks up for a moment as I watch him pull the gun from the side table, his body tense as he peers out the curtains only to relax.
“Show time.” He says with a grin, side stepping the panic I just watched. He puts the gun away and takes his seat again, dragging more of the drug into his lungs and puffing the cloud above.
Nervous energy rattles my bones as I hear car doors slam and the heavy foot falls of the two men who I hope, and pray, will like the offering I’m about to give them. I move back towards the fireplace just as the door swings open.
“It smells like a fucking dispensary in here.” Law growls. His eyes go straight for Logan. Behind him Ace walks in, bag slung over his shoulder and a tired look in his eyes. And yet, even tired, they find me immediately.
“Why are you in the corner?” He asks as he kicks the door shut behind him. Law’s eyes jerk towards me.
Stepping forward into the fire light I take a deep, cleansing breath before I begin. “Can you all sit down?” Law and Ace tense but both follow my direction, both sitting onto the couch. I bit my lip expecting more nervous energy only to be greeted by a calm washing over me.
A small giggle escapes my lips and from the chair Logan lets out a sigh. “See this is why I didn’t let you have more.” He mutters.
“Shush.” I snap before my hand flies up to my mouth and another giggle comes out.
Law leans forward, arms pressed against his knees. “Are you high darlin'?” His voice is a delicious purr that lends me wings and I find myself closing my eyes swaying to the low music we have playing.
“She took one shot gun hit.” Logan groans. “I didn’t want her high for this.”
“High for what?” Ace asks.
I giggle and my hands find the straps of my dress, slowly pulling at the bows that hold the dress to my body. I hear a collective intake of breath as the fabric hits the ground and exposes the black lace bra and panty set I have on.
“Logan, did our girl let you ink her?” Ace asks, his voice filled with dark, heady lust.
I keep my eyes closed drawing my hands up and down my body, hips still swaying. “I wanted to erase what he did to me. So I gave Logan my blood and pain in another way.” My voice has a strange airy quality to it as I speak.
Hands suddenly appear on my body and I’m jerked into awareness by the scent of smoke. Fluttering my eyes open I see Ace in front of me, eyes looking over the work Logan did on me. The brand woven into rose and thorns expertly, making it seem like there was never a brand there to begin with.
