Caitlyn lounged on the worn couch, one leg tossed over the other, her curves catching the dim flicker of lamplight. Her skirt slid up just enough to flash a glimpse of smooth, rosy thigh.
Her eyes narrowed, a spark of irritation flaring in her chest as she side–eyed the guy next to her. He was tearing into his food like a beast, winding with every bite, his face a mix of hunger and pain.
Her hand brushed her stomach, a faint rumble reminding her she’d barely touched her own dinner. “Ugh, I’m running on fumes.”
But the way he looked at her eyes blazing with a hunger that went beyond food, made her pause. Three days out cold, no grub–he was probably one missed bite away from eyeing her as the main course. With a dramatic sigh, she’d scraped half her meal into a chipped plate and shoved it his way.
Her gaze drifted to the bandages wrapping his torso, fresh blood staining the white where he’d moved too much.
Worry gnawed at her, sharp and unwelcome. “Alright, spill,” she said, voice cutting through the quiet “Why’d you go picking a fight with them?”
Loon’s fork froze, his jaw clenching so tight she could practically hear his teeth grind. A shadow darkened his face, and the air grew thick, heavy with something unspoken. After a long, tense beat, he muttered, “Thanks…”
Caitlyn snorted, her patience wearing thin. “Yeah, keep your thanks. I want the dirt. What the hell happened?”
Leon stayed silent, wolfing down the last of his food before setting the plate down with a soft clink. He let out a shaky breath, his eyes flicking to her before dropping to the floor
“…” His voice was rough, like it’d been dragged through broken glass.
A flash of something raw crossed his face–murderous rage tangled with a grief so heavy it seemed to crush him. His fist clenched, nails biting into his palm, and she could almost feel the storm raging inside him.
“I killed them,” he said, each word cold and final. “The ones who betrayed me.”
“Betrayed…“Caitlyn let the word linger, turning it over in her mind.
A smirk tugged at her lips, sharp and knowing “Called it. Those snakes used you up and then tried to to
Leon’s eyes darkened, a tempest of anger and pain swirling behind them. “It’s… more than that.”
toss s you out like garbage, huh? Typical”
Caitlyn flicked her gaze to the TV’s flickering glow, switching her crossed legs with a lazy shrug. “Still don’t get it,” she said, blunt as ever. “Why not just walk? Why let those losers carve you up like this?”
“I could handle anyone else turning on me,” Leon said, “But not them. Not the ones I called my crew
“So you went full–on executioner, mowed them down, and then dragged your busted ass to my place.”
Leon’s face crumpled, the fire in his voice snuffed out like a candle in a gale. He curled into himself on the couch, arms wrapping around his knees, his broad frame suddenly looking fragile.
“I didn’t know where else to go.” he said.
The Human Alliance had no room for him now. Every safe haven, every ally–gone.
Except for Caitlyn. She was his last lifeline, and even that felt like a gamble.
They’d branded him a traitor, a monster to be hunted. In a heartbeat, he’d gone from hero to the world’s most wanted. His crew turned their back. The people he’d bled for spat curses, their hatred a blade sharper than any sword.
He’d tried to explain, to make them see, but no one listened. No one cared. The same souls he’d saved didn’t spare a moment for truth – just venom
14
Chapter 5
He just let them choke on their ignorance.
But the betrayal from those he’d trusted, the ones he’d fought beside? That w
So he’d drawn his blade, let blood answer blood.
wound no magic could heal.
But when the bodies hit the ground, when the silence settled… what was left? Just him, and a whole lot of nothing
The silence stretched on, thick and uncomfortable,
Caitlyn shot him a sharp look, her brow furrowed. “Look, whatever’s going on with you, the first thing you need to do is get your ass in the bathroom and scrub that smell off. You’re paying for the couch and the carpet, capiscn1”
Leon stared at her, completely blank. “I don’t have any money”
Caitlyn’s jaw dropped. “What? You’ve been playing the hero for how long, and you’ve got nothing saved?”
Her frustration was starting to boil over, her patience running thin
Leon just shrugged, locking utterly defeated. “Everything’s frozen. All my money’s locked up in the Bank of Human Alliance.”
She couldn’t help it.” Asshole!” Her face flushed bright red as the curse slipped out, but she wasn’t even sure if she was angry at him or just frustrated with everything.
Caitlyn sucked in a deep breath, forcing herself to calm down. She gave him a sharp look “Time… jus damn bath.”
Lean’s response was barely audible. “Okay”
He mumbled, wincing as he pushed himself up, his body swaying unsteadily. He took a slow step, then froze, his gaze drifting to her with a confused frown.
Uh….where’s the bathroom?” he asked.
She stared at him for a moment, blinking, before rolling her eyes. She grabbed his arm and led him to the bathroom, shoving him inside with a firm push,
Leon blinked at her, dazed, as she hurried back into her room, cheeks tinged pink. A minute later, she came out again, her arms full of clothes and a towel.
“The towel and clothes are outside. Just go wash up,” she said, her voice curt, before darting back to her bedroom.
Leon let out a soft breath and stepped into the bathroom, his reflection staring back at him with dull eyes. He paused, taking a long, hard look at the broken man in the mirror before slowly stripping off his grimy clothes.
Back in her room, Caitlyn tucked her underwear into a drawer, exhaling in relief. Her gaze flicked to her closet.
‘No way in the Nine Hells am I lending him anything personal, she thought, crossing her arms with a scowl. “But…ugh, it’s late, and tossing him some baggy clothes for the night won’t be the death of me, light?”
After a moment’s hesitation, a wicked grin appeared on her face. She grabbed a set of fluffy, pink pajamas she’d only worn once, along with a fresh towel, She moved quickly to the door and knocked lightly
“Clothes and a towel are outside,” she said, then turned to leave.
No response.
She shook her head, muttering under her breath, “What a pain in the ass.”
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12:53 Fri, 13 Jun G
Chapter 5
But before she could walk away, a faint groan from the bathroom froze her in her tracks.
A soft, strained sound, barely audible over the water running, but Caitlyn heard it
Her eyes narrowed, her instincts kicking in. Something was wrong
A few moments later, the door creaked open. Barefool, Leon stumbled out, his body trembling
lyn turned, her gaze snapping to him. The room went sent
Leon stood there, blood streaking down his body, his lace pale and drenched with sweat. His legs shook as he fought to stay upright, and his clothes were soaked in blood, the fabric torn and stained.
His eyes were unfocused, distant. His wet hair bung in limp strands.
The blood seeped through the tears in his clothes, dripping from the wounds beneath. It wasn’t just bleeding–it was stuck, as though some strange force was holding his body together but preventing him from healing.
Drip… drip…
The sound of blood falling to the floor was unnervingly loud, echoing in the quiet room, Lean stood there, shaking the crimson liquid pooling around his
fect
Leon’s head sagged, his grimy hair spilling over his face like a tattered veil, hiding whatever guilt or pain flickered in his eyes. His voice, rough as gravel, barely broke the silence. “Didn’t get your shirt dirty…”
His left hand clutched the clean linen Caitlyn had left out, holding it up like a shield, his fingers trembling to keep his blood from staining it.
Caitlyn squeezed her eyes
shut, her breath hitching as she fought the rising tide of exasperation. This guy’s gonna give me a stroke‘
She fumbled for her phone, jabbing the screen with enough force to crack it, and dialed,
“Get your
butt over here now,” she snapped. “Bring bandages, healing salves, the whole kit. Got a total knucklehead bleeding all over my floor…
Her voice wavered as her gaze flicked to Leon. He was staring at his boots, shoulders hunched like he’d been whipped.
Her eyes followed his, and her heart
it sank. A dark red puddle was spreading under his feet, soaking into the wood, just like the day he’d dragged himself to her doorstep, too stubborn to die.
“What? What did you say?” Germaine’s voice buzzed through the phone, half–confused, hall–annoyed.
Caitlyn blinked, snapping out of it. “Just haul ass, okay?” she barked, ending the call with a swipe.
She shot to her feet, her pulsa hammering as she tried to swallow the fury clawing at her throat. Storming over to Leon, she planted herself in front of
him.
As she was short and barely clearing his shoulder–she had to crane her neck to glare up at him, her eyes blazing like hellfire.
“Dude…” she growled, poking his chest. “You trying to die or what?”
Leon’s eyes flickered, catching hers for a split second before dropping. “Didn’t mean to trash your floor…” he muttered, so quiet she almost missed it Trash my floor? Caitlyn’s brain short circuited. is this guy serious?‘
Her eye twitched like it was about to pop. “That’s what you think I’m mad abouth” she exploded, hands flying up. “Why the hell did you rip off your bandages?
“And then–sweet gods–hose down the wound like it’s a muddy booth You ever been cut before, or are you just that clueless about not cyber
12:53 Fri, 13 Jun G
Chapter 5
Leon’s gaze crept up, his face blank but his voice steady. “You said reeked. Told me to scrub up.”
Caitlyn’s jaw hit the floor, “Oh, , hell no. Her vision blurred with raw frustration, her hair practically turning gray.
67%1
“I told you to clean up, not carve yourself up worse!” she yelled, throwing her hands out, “I let you crash here, so quit pulling this dumbass stunt, got it?”
Leon stood frozen, a hulking shadow of regret, his hands twitching at his sides.
She clamped her eyes shut, turning away from this infuriating, self–sabotaging wreck. ‘Breathe, Caitlyn. Don’t deck him.”
Her thoughts churned, unraveling his warped reasoning. ‘Clean up? Yeah, right scrub off the grime, pat it down, call it a day! But this?
‘Does he think I’m some nutcase who’d make a half–dead guy scrub himself bloody, infection or not?”
She whipped around, fists clenched tight. ‘He’s damn lucky I don’t end him for this mess
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