CHAPTER THIRTY-THREE
“Yummy,” Toro garbles with a mouthful of chicken and noodles. Golden broth drips onto his shirt, which is already stained with sweat thanks to his fever. It’s gotten better, but it’s not gone yet. “Thanks, Nico.”
“You’re welcome,” I say sitting cross-legged between his tree trunk thighs. “Do you feel a bit better, sweetheart?”
The nickname makes his expression brighten just a bit more, his forehead finding its way to mine so he can bash them together aimlessly. “Yeah.”
“You still need to rest,” I make sure to add before he starts getting any ideas. “Your dad asked me to get the eggs from the chickens, but I won’t go until you’re sleeping. Okay?”
“Stay.” He protests, grabbing my forearm. It’s not firm, I could easily pull away if I wanted. “Please?”
I shake my head no. “Can’t. Your dad asked, and you know I don’t wanna get on his bad side.”
Toro makes a face but doesn’t argue further, pulling me into a tight hug. He’s gross and sweaty but that’s okay, I’m just glad he isn’t dying in bed anymore. I kiss under his chin, which makes him huff in response.
“Want you,” he pouts. “Stay…”
“Toro.”
Another huff. “Fine.”
“Don’t be like that,” I laugh at him, leaning back to admire how cute he is when he’s being all pouty. His chin rests on top of my head, and I hear how he tries to hide his little yawn.
I gently push him down on the bed, climbing on top of him. “You’re tired. Take another nap, Tor. You’ll feel a lot better when you wake up.”
“Don’t want nap, want you.”
My eyes roll so far into the back of my head they almost get stuck there. “A nap is going to make you feel better. Cuddling with me is just gonna make your temperature rise again.”
“Nope,” he says plainly, and for a second it doesn’t seem as though he has a hard time talking at all because he’s being pretty damn stubborn. “Feel better.”
“You feel better because you napped.” My chest presses up against his, sprawling out on top of him like a human weighted blanket. “I promise I’ll be here when you wake up.”
Toro raises his brow at me, not all that convinced that I’ll actually come back. He kisses my forehead, before settling into bed properly. “...Bossy.”
“I’m bossy?” I laugh harder than I’ve laughed in a while. “Shut up and go to sleep.”
“Like it…” he yawns again, shutting his eyes and resting his hands on the small of my back. I almost doze off alongside him, but after a good twenty minutes or so his snoring wakes me up.
Making as little noise as possible, I crawl off of him and put my shoes on. My beat up old sneakers have been through so much, and all of Toro’s boots are way too big for me. Once they’re on I make the short walk over to the chicken coop.
It stinks in there, because of course it does, but the chickens are so cute I’m just happy to see them. My favorite is Mabel, this fat little thing who does nothing but eat and sleep all day. She’s kind of living the dream, I think.
I say hi to all the chickens, grabbing their eggs and putting them into the basket Mr. Tavera mentioned earlier. I’m almost done when I hear footsteps approaching on the dry grass behind me. Pulling my head out of the coop I turn around to see Damien.
“Hey there, ciervo,” he grins, all dead-eyed and sleazy. “Where’s Toro? Not clingin’ to ya for once?”
Every part of my body is telling me to just run. But I just stand there shaking like a leaf, awkwardly clutching at the wicker basket in my hands. “Uh… He’s sick. He’s taking a nap.”
Damien steps forward. “Really? That’s mighty interestin’. Thought he was stuck up yer ass twenty-four seven.”
“Nope.” My mouth feels dry. “Did you need something?”
He gives me a one over before shaking his head. “Not exactly… But it’s just me and you, y’know? So you can be honest…” Before I can ask any questions he’s circling me. “Ain’t you worried about Toro? About who he really is?”
“No. I… no.”
“Really? You ain’t worried about the shit he used to do before you got here?” Damien’s grin is gone now, replaced with something more sinister. “Y’know he’s pretty aggressive when he wants to be. Half the time the meat wasn’t even recognizable when he was done with ‘im.”
My thoughts trail back to when I first saw him back in that cabinet, meat tenderizer in hand. Is that what he used to kill my friends? I must have cringed at the thought since Damien’s smiling again.
“We’ve all done bad shit, even Alma. But here you are stayin’ with us like it’s normal. Yer’ either brave or really fuckin’ stupid, Nico.”
I’m definitely not brave.
“I just… You’re still people…” God, that excuse sounds so weak as it leaves my mouth. He just has a way of getting under my skin in a way no one else does. Not even Mr. Tavera. “People can change…”
“Sure they can,” he nods thoughtfully. “But not Toro. Especially not after last week…”
My blood runs cold, body going so still I might as well be a statue. “What… happened last week?”
His eyes scream ‘gotcha,’ and I know nothing good is going to come next. “‘Member when we went to town? Picked up this pretty little hitchhiker on the way home. Boy did he enjoy carvin’ her up like a Halloween pumpkin.”
They went to town, that was true. I remember because Toro brought me back a chocolate bar and was extra cuddly that day. But why? Did he feel remorse over what he did? Did he regret it?
Or is Damien just a fucking liar?
I don’t know. There’s no way for me to ever know unless I ask him. I take a few steps away from him, trying to recompose myself. How am I supposed to just ask? ‘Hey, sorry but I still don’t fully trust you.’ Yeah, I’m sure he’d love to hear that.
“No he didn’t. He didn’t do that.” The quiver in my voice doesn’t exactly sell the fact I fully believe what I’m saying. “You… you’re just…”
“Just what? I’m just lookin’ out for you, Nico. Who knows what he’d do if you tried to up and leave again…”
I need to talk to him. I need to hear it from his mouth, not Damien’s. “Okay,” I mumble. “I’ll see you later.” Damien howls, his laughter following me when I speedwalk away.
My legs work quickly as I head back to the farm. I just need to talk to Toro and get to the bottom of this. I don’t want to overthink it. I shouldn’t overthink it. But my heart is racing so fast I think I might really just pass out before I even get there.
I really hope he’s honest with me.