Total pages in book: 85
Estimated words: 76812 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 384(@200wpm)___ 307(@250wpm)___ 256(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 76812 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 384(@200wpm)___ 307(@250wpm)___ 256(@300wpm)
He draws my attention when he stands. The plate he offered me is now empty, but he doesn't speak before leaving the room for a third time.
I know he can easily pull me out of this closet. The man isn't an idiot, but I still pull the rest of the packaged food toward me and try and shove it all behind my back before he returns.
Instead of demanding I get out of his closet, he reenters the room, laying down a pile of blankets and a pillow within my reach.
He turns, disappearing out of my line of sight before coming back and laying a flashlight on the bedding he’s offered.
"I can sleep with the light on if you want me to," he says. Instead of responding, I simply pull the blankets and other items inside the closet and tug the door closed.
The light under the door is extinguished, and it only makes me more nervous. The man moves around the room silently, and with the light off, I can't track his shadow through the room like I always did when I was younger.
I wait, giving him what I consider enough time to get into bed and fall asleep before I shift to my knees, use the flashlight, and spread out the blankets. He brought more than I'd ever need if I were on an actual bed, and I know it's so I can have a little more padding under my body.
I'd never complain because, honestly, I’ve been in much worse conditions.
I freeze after what feels like an eternity later, my ears picking up on the first sound I’ve heard since the light turned off.
Whimpers make their way through the closed closet door. At first, I feel like he's taunting me, but after a while, I begin to understand that he's having a nightmare.
Nathan would consider that a weakness. Nothing should bother a man enough that he loses sleep or is restless when his head hits his pillow. I can recall more than once when Xan was punished for his dreams, despite them being completely out of his control. His dad wanted him stronger, and that he cried in his sleep or woke up calling out for help made him a wimp. Nathan would never internalize any of it. The things he did to us were to make us stronger. They shouldn't have the ability to weaken us further.
It isn't until the light from the window on the far side of his room casts its light under the door that the whimpering stops. I find less comfort in the silence than I did knowing that maybe there isn't as much difference between Newton and me after all.
Chapter 9
Newton
Once again, I open my eyes, feeling as if I didn't sleep at all last night. I know I was restless, that despite Brielle's fear of me, I wasn't exactly comfortable being in a place that gave someone else such easy access to me.
I feel as tired as I did those first couple of weeks after joining the Marine Corps. Sleeping in the barracks with rows of bunk beds filled with other Marines nearly made me go insane, but I managed to get through that. I know I can survive this as well.
Instead of letting myself focus on the fact that she's still curled up in my closet, I head to the bathroom, taking care of business, before spending a few extra minutes running cold water over my face.
Deep down I know I should ask Kincaid to move her, but I also know that I won't. I don't want my boss to see how tired I am after last night and make that decision for me either.
I spend another couple of minutes trimming up my beard before staring at myself in the mirror, trying to put myself in her place, trying to understand what she might see when she looks at me.
Her first words to me were her asking me not to hurt her, but I have a feeling that has more to do with her own history than the tattoo covering my entire neck and the full sleeve on my left arm. Tattoos aren't exactly a new invention, despite neither her stepbrother nor stepfather having any according to the report we were provided months ago.
I run my hand over my face before standing up straight. Leaving the room in my t-shirt and sweats isn't ideal, but I also don't want to disturb her. I crossed a line I probably shouldn't have last night when I opened the closet door without her permission. I won't make the same mistake a second time.
"I'm going to breakfast," I say out loud once I leave the bathroom.
I keep my distance from the closet, wishing I was the type of guy to use the dresser instead of hanging everything but socks and boxer briefs up.