Chapter 24 #3
“Indeed,” Wren agrees, looking the little creature over but not coming closer.
“Must be a stray. No one lives out here anymore.” He walks the rest of the way to his truck, and I wince at the thump the tarps make on the bed of it.
Once that’s done, he strides over, moving more and more slowly the closer he gets to me.
But the little cat isn’t afraid of him, either. It walks right up to the serial killer, standing up on its back legs so it can rub its face against his jeans. Wren’s smile widens, and he scratches it under the chin. “What a friendly little thing. Are you going to keep it?”
He asks like it’s just the most obvious thing in the world for me to take it home.
“Does Jed like cats?” I ask gingerly. “Do you think he’d be okay bringing it home?”
“Ask him,” Wren recommends. “He’s not a hard ass. And it is a really cute cat.” With that he disappears back into the barn, whistling his strangely cheerful tune.
Jed is the next out, carrying the now bloody chainsaw to the SUV along with some of the tarps. He glances around the yard until his eyes find mine, and a smile hitches on his bloody lips. “Oh.” He stops, opening the hatch of the vehicle as he surveys the situation. “I see you made a friend.”
“I think he’s a stray.” Anxiety builds in my chest, half because I’m about to ask him about the cat and half because he’s covered in blood and looks…
frankly terrifying. Subconsciously he runs his crimson fingers through his hair, and it stands on end, coated with blood, when he’s done. “And he’s pretty thin.”
“Yeah?” Somehow I haven’t found the opportunity to ask him, but Jed comes closer, dropping to the ground opposite me.
The little cat doesn’t waste a second, naturally.
It bounds over to its new friend, rubbing on his arms like they aren’t streaked with blood.
“Just a second, darling,” Jed chuckles, wiping his arms on his shirt before presenting them to the cat again.
He runs his fingers along its body, just as I had done, and grimaces.
“You are thin, aren’t you kitty?” as if it understands, the cat meows and pushes itself closer to him.
“Well…” He looks up at me, his eyes wide and sincere. “We probably can’t just leave it out here. Outside of a murder barn, in the middle of the woods.”
“Are you asking me?” I can’t help the small, surprised grin. “I was trying to figure out how to ask you if we could take it home. Since it’s your house, and all. My apartment definitely doesn’t allow cats.”
“Oh, we’re so taking the cat home.” Jed gets to his feet, and reaches out to help me when I scoop the cat into my arms. It doesn’t fight me, and instead turns to rest more comfortably against my chest, with its little body rumbling like a motorboat.
“Are you okay?” He pulls me close, the cat trapped between us and not minding at all.
I open my mouth to answer…only to find that the words aren’t there. Not just yet. Gary’s screams still send prickles down my spine, and as I stare into his face, I don’t see a bit of remorse. Not that I’d expected to see any.
But it’s different to know and then to see what he is right in front of my eyes.
“It doesn’t bother you? To kill him like that?” I incline my head towards the barn, but Jed is already shaking his head. “It doesn’t bother you to cut up someone into pieces?” He’s still shaking his head as I ask, his smile rueful and apologetic.
“I wish it did right now,” Jed admits. “If only so I could give you the answer that you need, Saylor.” He reaches out with bloody fingers to gently cradle my chin in his fingers. “If you aren’t okay with this, I understand. I get it, and–”
“I’m not…as against it as I should be.” I interrupt him, before he can assume something different. “Really. I just need time, I think, before I’m willing to watch you massacre someone. If that’s okay with you.” My heart flutters when I speak, and I hope I can live up to my words.
His smile widens, and he drags me closer, until the cat squeaks in protest and worms its way upwards between us, so it has more space. “I’ll give you all the time in the world, princess,” Jed promises, as earnest as the fucking sunrise. “And I’ll never push you. Haven’t I told you that before?”
“Once or twice,” I agree, my own voice just as quiet. “Thank you. For this. For everything. For being willing to give me that time.” At least I know how to squash the voice that screams this is the biggest mistake I’ll ever make.
“Why don’t you two go on home?” Wren’s voice makes me spring backwards, and Jed reluctantly lets me go. “We’ll finish up here, right?” I look over to the barn, just in time to see Virgil nod, looking bored.
“You sure?” Jed hesitates, but when he looks at me, I know he wants to leave as well. “I can stay–”
“Go home and make her your famous ice cream sundaes,” Virgil is quick to drawl, his eyes on me. “She looks like she could use the sugar so she doesn’t pass out.” Wren makes a face at him, but Virgil only shrugs and ducks back in the barn, clearly done with the conversation.
“I’m totally not about to pass out,” I promise under my breath, scratching the kitten’s chin as Jed strokes along its ears.
“I believe you,” my boyfriend promises. “But uh, now that I look at you, maybe you should hand me the cat and get in the SUV. You know. Just in case.”