From Hadden:
Pull the other one.
Something's don't jive. The terror? The shrinking? A "good enough" boss? I raise an eyebrow questioningly and look dubious, study her motions.
From Hadden:
I roll my eyes specifically at both of them in turn, exaggerated, exasperated. I don't care about getting the sheets dirty, they've seen worse. If I get into a bathtub, I'll probably fall asleep and drown, I suppose. I drop my go-bag, …
From Hadden:
Watching Crony and Blizz both. Just in case.
I nod thanks to Tresspass, sincere, fistbump. Got my other hand at my neck. I feel relief that K2's okay, that it didn't go further. Unless it has already. That fearlight in K2's eyes. Fuck…
From Hadden:
It is K2. And Crony took my line. Quick as I can manage, low, intense: "Trespass. How much for dibs over him?" She's gotta remember that K2 and Silica both were with me at Red Brick. Shit, how long ago was that? A week? Less? I wonder …
From Hadden:
I give Trespass a tired look like girl doncha know. I put my hand back to my neck. Maybe keep pressure on it, feel better. Rossi...
"Sleep sounds mag. Food, maybe? Nothing fine." Short sentences seem to help. Less air maybe. I remembe…
From Hadden:
I wonder what it does for Silica's reputation to be seen with me. I turn my head and regard her for a sec, then back to Trespass. I can walk, but it's obvious I need sleep and rest.
I wonder how Serene is doing. I'm not up for a visi…
From Hadden:
Leaving Benton Harbor. Not going to go back. So much for fat jingle trade route. My thoughts are aswirl with people. Jax, Silica, Rossi, mom, K2, Tindy, Arbor, Squirrel, Slash, Lashfight, Roxy, Molotov.
I have definitely seen better d…
From Hadden:
I open my eyes. "Wife?" I grin like a fool. "Congratulations! I'll have to owe you a dance, though." I close my eyes, think about Rossi's sweet rack. Oh, well.
From Hadden:
I nod, but the nod keeps going a bit too long. I'm tired, dirty, bloody, and my head is full of snowdrifts. "I'm not thinking straight." Does Rossi know Silica and I fucked? I open my mouth and shut it a few times. I close my eyes and …
From Hadden:
Oh, Rossi, it's okay. Your heart will be fine, you lucky girl. My name is gonna be mud out here, but I'm walking out. Gotta live with what I did.
Vaguely, still making an effort to focus, "Gotta get these meds back to Roxy. I didn't k…
From Hadden:
Bleary, leaning against a wall for support, "Rossi," I've got my hand pressed on my neck. I feel like frozen shit. I killed a man. Silica and I fucked. Underlake and the fam. Jester and the sub. Their dad. So much to say to my friend. …
From Hadden:
The reports snap through the haze and I focus with an effort. Silica's got me, Rossi's on point... "Jester? We gotta get safe, man." How's he looking?
I hurry after Silica. Well, I try to. We must look a sight, tiny Silica pulling me…
From Hadden:
Fuckballs.
This isn't me. I'm so out of it. I want to leave a couple jingle for Shelly for Jax. Watching Rossi, thinking about Doc and Poke. Pain and drugs have me dragging my feet in the snow. The cold wakes me a little. Silica knows…
From Hadden:
Those blue blue eyes. Pulls me up some. Gotta move. I blink, hard. Push down the exhaustion. "Yes indeed."
Where is my shirt and jacket and go-bag? Maybe Solace left 'em under the gurney. At least I got my boots.
From Hadden:
I'm slow, but I'm moving. I nod at Silica, but it makes me feel light-headed the room moves a little wrong. I'm weirdly fucking hungry. My brain fixates on the different touches of both sisters in the same place on my neck, cool and wa…
From Hadden:
She said sorry? Maybe I am dead. There's a memory of a smile on my face.
My fingers won't work to reach for them, maybe a little twitch?
"Is he still here?" Not fearful, asking what the what. Watching the sisters. Worried for them. …
From Hadden:
Sounds, noises. Smells. Only bits and pieces, none of it shimmery, just a muffled sinking restful blackness that hurt. Not as scary as a cave-in, but just as black and final.
Rossi? Really? I'm not dead, or I could move, right?
But s…
From Hadden:
"Big man, kicking a body who's down. Your bedside manner sucks, Doc." I laugh a little crazy. "Ain't nobody love you enough gonna stitch you together! Neither of them!" Rossi gonna kill me if I don't bring Silica home. I giggle again. …
From Hadden:
A little delirious with a rush of endorphins, I let out a tiny giggle, and my mouth starts to run. "They do love me when I'm in them, don't they? Didn't think you cared, Doc. Want some?"
From Hadden
Fuck, that hurts.
I got some words to throw back, but they're gone, replaced by a line of whitehot pain, sharp and stinging. I know I hiss in a breath, my eyes wide as I feel it, and you can't help but try and move away... worse 'cause…
From Hadden:
Not like this. I'm not done!
This guy's totally out of his mind. And he can't count. That's like three people. How many more across all of Chi-Town do I help live every day? Plus another life not yet here...
But this asshole... He w…
From Hadden:
"Silica?" I look at her like she's grown a second head. Pull myself to my feet. If that door doesn't lock, maybe she can help me push the gurney against it? Grab her before she goes, hands on shoulders, looking into those blue blue eye…
From Hadden:
What the ever loving fuck?
"The lady said no, Doc." I put my hand on Silica's shoulder, holding her. "She's with me. We're going home. You don't get what you want."
Silica, you're stronger than this. You're not a little kid!
I step …
From Hadden:
My voice is a little raw, and I'm holding myself up half on Silica and half on the gurney. Then the fool walks in, I stand taller, keep myself twixt he and she. "I'm Hadden, her operator. Honest work. Jax's blood is on your hands, wret…
From Hadden:
Hands on me, I flinch. But they are cool, seeking. Her voice in my ear.
Silica?!?
Never did I ever think that she'd be pulling me out of a hole. There's naked raw gratitude on me face and I almost wonder if this is a drug hallucinati…