Series: The Circle of Monsters Series by Sam Crescent
Total pages in book: 44
Estimated words: 41985 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 210(@200wpm)___ 168(@250wpm)___ 140(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 41985 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 210(@200wpm)___ 168(@250wpm)___ 140(@300wpm)
“Are you okay?” she asked.
“I’m fine, Skye.”
She wanted to dispute that, but instead of saying a word, she kept her mouth closed. It seemed to be the safest of options to her now.
Galen held her palm up, and she tried not to squirm away, but that was impossible. He wasn’t going to stop until he’d removed every piece of glass from her palm.
“Are you okay?” he asked. “You’re not fucking okay. Shit.”
He hadn’t asked her this since they had stumbled into a dirty bathroom. There was mold in the corners, and there seemed to be grass growing across one wall. Most of the mirrors were shattered. Of the four sinks there, two were missing bowls, one had something dead inside it, and this one looked like it hadn’t been cleaned in years. The stench was appalling.
Skye was pleased she hadn’t eaten anything because she would have vomited. She had to wonder if they would be safer inside or outside. There was no way anyone would dare attempt to pass here.
“Yeah, I’m fine,” she said.
“You don’t have to lie to me.”
“I’m not lying.”
Galen chuckled.
“I don’t know how you can laugh at a time like this,” she said.
“You’re funny and cute.”
“This smell is not funny nor cute.”
“Very true, but at least we’re alive to be able to smell it.”
She sighed. “Aren’t you tempted?”
“Shut up,” he said.
“You can’t keep saying stuff like that to me.”
“No, I’m not tempted to hand you over to Petrov.”
Skye had lost count of the number of days, or even if it was weeks now, that they’d been on the run. Slash and Kensington had joined them through most of it. In fact, they had even started to hang out like buddies. She was worried, as there was no sign of them. Galen didn’t seem too concerned. She tried to follow his direction and not be worried, but that was hard to do.
Running fingers through her hair, she nibbled her lip, and tried not to think about what was happening to her hand. She forced a smile, which didn’t last as he took out another piece of glass, the shard clinking as it dropped into the porcelain sink.
“Is that because your boss told you not to return me?” Skye asked.
“No. I won’t hand you over, not even if Viko demands it. I’m going to keep you alive.”
“For how long? We’ve been running for days, and I don’t know about you, but they’re clearly getting closer, and it will only be a matter of time before they succeed. What if I go to Petrov willingly?” Skye asked.
“Shut the fuck up. That’s not happening, do you understand me?” He put down the tweezers and cupped her face. Galen forced her to look at him. “I won’t let you go. I’m not going to argue with you about this.” He took a breath. “Look, I’ve never had anyone. It’s only been me, understand? Now that I have you, someone who gives a shit if I live or die, I’m not giving that up. Not for anything.”
She nodded her head and Galen let her go, picking up the tweezers once again, assessing her hand.
“Have you ever been in a situation like this?”
“No.”
“You haven’t?”
“My missions have never involved me keeping people alive, Skye.”
She tried not to shiver at the thought.
“So, I’m the first.”
“Yes.”
This didn’t fill her with confidence.
“I’m going to make it work,” he said.
“I trust you.”
“Do you?” he asked.
“Yes, of course.” She had no doubt he’d keep her alive. Her only real question was how long, and what would it cost him in the long run.
She stayed silent as he finished removing glass from her hand. Once he was done, he pulled out some ointment and a bandage. He wrapped both of her hands as well as her knees.
The pants she wore were destroyed, but Galen had been able to find her a replacement.
Once she was treated and changed, Galen grabbed her hand, and she noticed he was careful on how tightly he held her.
“We’re going to have to head out,” he said.
They hadn’t left the bathroom. She had started to learn little telltale signs of Galen’s body that told to her certain things weren’t right. Like the fact he was tense.
“What do you see?” she asked.
“There’s a glint.”
After listening to Slash, Kensington, and Galen, she knew that meant it was either a mirror, or the sun shining on something metal, most likely a gun. They’d never been wrong.
Galen moved them back into a toilet stall. The only other exit was sealed shut.
“I can distract them,” Skye said.
“No.”
He pulled out his gun.
“We’re going to run like fucking hell.”
She was about to complain, to make alternative suggestions, but he already fired the weapon at the rusted handle of the back door. She didn’t have time to ask him what to do if it didn’t work. What if the door didn’t budge?