Chapter 26 #2
I pause, letting him make the next move, and my breath hitches in my chest as his hands slowly glide over the soft fabric of his T-shirt that is draped over my body.
I let him lead the way, carefully pulling up the shirt.
Crew’s rough fingers brush against my thigh first, and I tense, trying to stop the shiver that runs up my body.
He first uncovers my ass, hips, wounded stomach, and scarred back.
I close my eyes, feeling vulnerable and embarrassed by my current state.
Crew is incredibly gentle, moving my arms through the sleeves and doing fantastic work to ensure not a single muscle is strained, knowing that would hurt me.
The T-shirt moves over my head, and the warm air pricks my skin.
I open my eyes and notice that he is staring into my eyes, never allowing his gaze to slip to my exposed body.
He turns, tossing the shirt to the ground, and grabs the towel, wrapping it around my body while keeping his gaze fixed on mine. He steps closer, and his bare chest nearly touches my chin as I look up at him. The inked butterflies travel down his chest, and I suck in a breath.
“Do you need help getting in the tub, Mara?”
Oh, shit.
My heart races, but I hesitate. “I’m not sure.”
He nods and steps back a few paces, giving me space.
I turn my back to him, stepping toward the warm water, and I glance back in the mirror.
He turns his head as the towel falls to the ground, giving me time to get in the tub successfully.
I lean forward, trying to grab the edge of the tub and wince, but lift my leg over the edge.
My stomach barks in pain, and the slick bottom of the tub makes me unsteady.
I quickly move my other foot into the water and feel myself slipping as a gasp leaves my lips.
Pain rattles my core, and I close my eyes, bracing for the painful impact waiting for me on the bathroom floor.
Two large arms wrap around my body as Crew catches me, stopping me from crashing onto the ground.
I open my eyes and find myself tucked into his chest with one of his hands under my knees, another gently wrapped around my lower back.
Crew lets out a shaky breath as his hands wrap around my naked body. He slowly walks forward, lowering me into the water. I grab the edge of the tub and adjust my position, trying to calm my racing heart.
I slowly pan my eyes to Crew and find him only staring at me with an intensity that makes the room scorching hot.
“Take your time, and let me know if you need help.” He turns, keeping his gaze high. “We should talk once you’ve cleaned up. Maybe with no blood this time.”
“You are filthy too,” I say, as he starts to cross the threshold. “Don’t you need a bath?”
Crew stills, and I notice a sly grin spreading across his lips as his gaze slowly meets mine. I watch him struggle not to lower his eyes to my breasts as his chest expands with a deep breath. His hands flex, as if he’s holding back from doing something, and my heart pounds against my ribs.
Did I just invite him to get in the fucking bath?
“I’m not going to take that as an invitation to join you. My current state isn’t something a water hose can’t fix. Plus,” he pauses. “Cold water may help cool me off.”
“Cool off?” I question.
He exhales heavily. “Hush, Mara. Let me leave this room.”
A thrill runs through me, but I let him go, closing the door behind him.
I hear him rustling in the bedroom, opening and closing a few drawers, followed by the sound of the front door shutting as Crew goes outside, giving me the privacy to bathe peacefully in the small apartment. I take my time cleaning every inch of my body and examining my wounds.
I use a washcloth to clean my back, still feeling the scabs of the burns that keep my wings trapped inside my body. I sigh, wishing I could stretch them wide beside me, and a growing sadness creeps into my bruised and broken body.
I find myself glancing at the door occasionally, wondering when Crew will come back inside.
Still, something tells me he’s also taking his time returning to the apartment, as if the tension between us needs to settle before we talk again.
I rest my head against the back of the tub and submerge my whole body.
I allow the water to rush over me as the silence of the depths fills my ears.
What the fuck is going on?
Everything that happened was insane, and I can’t wrap my head around whether seeing the Grim was real or not.
But something within me screams at me to listen to what he said.
If I can’t kill him, then the assignments have been a failure from the beginning, and I have a feeling Lowell knew that already.
He’s distracted me.
He’s tricked me.
And I believe he wanted me to fail from the beginning, like he always has, allowing him to continue controlling me. But my thoughts swirl, and I can’t help but question whether Lowell knows about replacing the Reaper? And did he want that for me?
If one controls death, they become all-powerful and unstoppable.
I’m not going to kill the Grim, but I am going to kill Lowell—blood oath or not.
I’ll find a way to break it. I’ll free myself of Lowell Lyre and the Order, and I’ll change the course of my life if there is still time.
A newfound motivation settles in my core, and for some reason, I’m terrified to tell Crew.
I emerge from the water, feeling a bit better, and wrap a towel tightly around my body as my wet hair drips onto the floor.
I move into the small bedroom and glance at the bed.
A fresh pair of clothes is laid out for me, including another large T-shirt—to ensure tight-fitting clothes don’t irritate my wound—and Crew’s sweatpants that are comically too large for me.
My clothes would have been fine, but the gesture was nice.
After playing so dirty, I’ll let it slide.
However, I can’t shake the feeling of how much he knows about my father’s death and what he has yet to tell me.
I don’t allow my thoughts to consume me.
I’ve assumed so many things about Crew up until now, and from what I’ve learned, I’ve been wrong.
So maybe, for the first time, I’ll give him the chance to talk like he wants to.
I pick up the shirt, and a note falls from beneath the fabric. I unfold the paper and read the messy handwriting on the page:
Mara,
I wasn’t joking about a cold shower. I’m running to town afterward.
Be back soon.
Your new blood bag,
-Crew.
I giggle and slip into the enormous clothing.
After brushing my hair and trying to feel as normal as possible, I walk to the living room and slowly lower my aching body onto the loveseat.
The folder containing the documents for our assignment catches my eye, and I lean forward to open it.
The first subject—the retired CEO—is crossed out in red, and confusion strikes me.
Crew had so much blood on him last night, and in my daze, I thought it was from me. However, this leads me to believe Crew was busier yesterday than he lets on. I don’t feel anger. Instead, all I feel is gratitude that there are fewer kills on my hands.
With two subjects left to tackle, my mind focuses solely on the one that makes me uneasy—Haber.
Lowell wants me to take out, yet another Haber relative, and my mind snaps back to last year when dealing with a member of the Haber family changed everything for me.
Sam Haber, Riggs’ father, was the person I was sent to kill over a year ago, which led to my being sent away. His family is like a sickness I can’t shake. They are terrible and ruthless, and with Sam being the only living Elder with a full human child, I know Lowell wants the family gone.
Nerves threaten to take over because I know one thing: if we move forward with this assignment, I’m going to have to tell Crew everything.
I hear the door crack open, and I break my intense stare on the documents as Crew enters the apartment once more. He’s clean, clothed, and carrying a large bag of food and a six-pack of beer.
“Hey, blood slinger,” he smiles.
“Hey.”
Crew looks at me. “You look clean.”
And I know this is going to be an interesting conversation.
“And you look refreshed,” I retort, as he sits down in front of the loveseat and places the bag of food and drinks on the table, propping his arm on his leg.
“Feel refreshed,” he says, opening the bag. “That water hose really did the trick.”
“You could have used the bath,” I shrug casually, even though my heart may explode. “I didn’t mean to make you shower outside.”
“It’s alright, you needed privacy, and I got the hint that I flustered you.”
“Flustered me?” I respond, pointing to myself.
Crew nods. “Oh, yeah.”
“No, I was perfectly fine.” I glare at him, not liking the callout. “You, on the other hand—”
Crew cuts me off. “Painfully… flustered. Yes.”
I still, and he pulls out a few burgers and fries. The smile doesn’t leave his lips, and all I can do is watch.
“Anyway, I think the neighbor enjoyed me showering just fine.”
“Oh, c’mon,” I huff, grabbing the food he places before me. “She is probably horrified at my blood on your body. Anyone normal would be.”
“I’m going to be honest with you, baby. I really don’t think she was staring at the blood.” He smirks, glancing down at his lap.
I laugh. “Sure, Crew. Whatever makes you feel good about yourself.”
“Hey,” he says, shifting on the floor. “I don’t blame her one bit.”
Crew watches me as laughter escapes from my throat, and his intensity could set this apartment on fire. I feel as if an icy finger touches my spine, and I quickly reel myself back in. I clear my throat and peel my eyes away.
“Thanks for the clothes, but I could have worn mine,” I say, taking a bite of a fry.
He follows my lead, eating as well. “You don’t need tight clothes constricting you while we have a bit of downtime. You need to heal as quickly as possible.”
“Right.”