Page 17 of Fiendish Ways

Chapter Ten

A week after tucking Cree into bed, Nebraska had given up on ever seeing him again. He wasn’t at peace with that. His feelings didn’t matter, though. They never had. Life would do what it wanted. Nebraska would survive or he wouldn’t. He didn’t think he had much of a say in the matter.

When the knock came, Nebraska expected it would be Archer or Angel. The last thing he saw coming was King on his doorstep. He, too, looked as if he had lost weight. There were dark circles under his eyes. A sad smile touched his lips as Nebraska opened the door. It fell every bit as quickly. “Hey.”

“Hey.” Nebraska didn’t know how he felt, but he still stepped aside, silently inviting King inside. It wasn’t his fault that things had gone to shit. Still, Nebraska didn’t feel the same about anything any longer. He wasn’t the same.

King shook his head. “I don’t want to cause any more hurt. But I also couldn’t leave without saying goodbye, and I’m sorry.”

Nebraska’s throat swelled. Tears burned at the back of his eyes. He realized he was wrong. Nebraska did feel the same. King was his best friend. Even knowing how it all ended, he wouldn’t have changed the way he handled things. Nebraska would always protect his secret. He cleared his throat.

“Leave? Where are you going?”

King shifted from foot to foot. He looked like he no longer knew his place. So much hurt all around. The ugliness was cloying. “Archer is sending me away. I mean, it’s another position that sounds necessary and honest on paper, but I know the deal. Cree’s been with him longer. Things will never have any chance of going back to normal as long as I’m around.”

Nebraska could see the hurt in his eyes. He was a guard dog dropped at the pound. Nowhere was home. Nebraska understood. “I need you.” The words came out in a whisper, but Nebraska felt them in his soul. “You’re my family. No matter what or where you go.”

King looked away.

Nebraska saw the tears he fought not to shed. He cleared his throat but didn’t look Nebraska’s way again. “My number is the same. Use it if you need anything. No matter the time of day or what happens, I’ll come.”

It turned out being touch-starved was a state Nebraska couldn’t adjust to. No matter how long he went without human contact, he still needed it. “Will you at least give me a hug before you go?”

Finally, King’s gaze moved Nebraska’s way again. They moved at the same time. For much longer than necessary, they held each other. King kissed his temple. “You’re my only family too. Please don’t forget me or give up.” Those words hurt more than Nebraska expected, because King was right. Nebraska did want to give up. It felt like time. He was too tired for his age. Nebraska felt like eighty instead of twenty. Maybe that was all he had in him. He supposed—soon enough—he would see.

For much longer than necessary, King sat in his car and stared at Nebraska’s front door. He knew he needed to get going. Bryson waited for his arrival. All his things were packed. King couldn’t force himself to put the car in gear. He felt the same way he had the day he had been sent to Archer. He felt like nothing. King was an asset. A piece of human property to be bartered and disposed.

He knew Archer’s reasoning sounded plausible. Bryson worked with a senator they planted in New York on a land deal to build Archer’s future warehouses. There were a ton of crazies out there when it came to politics. Death threats had been pouring in, bombarding Bryson. Archer needed to protect his plans. Bryson needed a guy under his roof. King was the logical choice. He knew better, though. King had disrupted Archer’s peaceful household. He had to go. None of it really mattered, except Nebraska did.

Knowing Nebraska was a brisk walk away had kept King sane. In his heart, he had thought they could be friends again. Nebraska felt real—like his very first family member. He had nothing without that, and it had been stripped from him.

King's hand landed on the gearshift. He really had to go. The passenger side door opened, and Cree climbed inside. He didn’t look King’s way. His jaw was set in a hard line.

“I’m sorry.”

King blinked. He hadn’t expected that one. For a second, he had thought Cree intended to seize his last shot at killing King. He didn’t know what to say, so he said nothing.

Cree’s chest expanded on a deep breath. His shoulders relaxed a hair. “You were important to Nebraska. You are important to Nebraska. I shouldn’t have ruined that. He deserves to have a friend and so do you.” His intense gaze finally swung King’s way and King realized he meant it. “Please don’t disappear. I know I don’t deserve anything, but I thought we were friends too before I destroyed everything. Plus, Nebraska needs you. It’s not good for him to always be alone.”

King drew a deep breath. He knew that took a lot for Cree to say. “Well, Bryson’s place is only about forty-five minutes from here. I don’t know what my time off will look like as his only employee. But I won’t disappear. I promise.”

Cree nodded. “If you want me to talk to Archer.”

King shook his head. “It’s done. I saw the contract. I’ve already changed hands. Bryson has already paid in full to buy me from Archer. A slave is a slave is a slave. You know how it is.”

“I have some money saved. I could buy your freedom.”

A sad smile pulled at King’s lips. “Why? I’m nothing. You know that. I have no name or social security number. Not one that would hold up for long. What would I do? This is all I know.”

Cree nodded and squeezed King’s shoulder. “The offer stands if you ever change your mind. If nothing else, I can lean on Archer to bring you back. I’m kind of in the doghouse right now, but Archer would still listen.”

“Don’t worry about me. Go get your life back. Nothing will make me feel better than knowing Nebraska isn’t alone. He’s not as strong as he pretends, and he gave up everything just to be my friend. I can’t live with that. No one else has ever cared about me like that.”

Cree took another deep breath. “I don’t think I’m what he needs, but I won’t let him be alone either.”

“That’s all I can ask.”

With a final nod, Cree climbed from the car. That was it. It was time for King to move on. Sometimes, there were no winners. Sometimes felt like always to him.

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