Page 10 of Always Watching
“Did you get bored, North? I thought you were terrorizing the city just to hear about yourself in the news.” He really shouldn’t sound as fond as he does, but he knows I was being safe, that I could get away with it. It’s true, too. I’d escalated specifically for the thrill of it, the desire tofeelsomething.
It’s strange that even with all the elaborate planning and precaution I’d taken, I’m feeling morenowwith the need to take care of Ranen than I had then.
My eyes flash into the room behind me, to the man laying on the hospital bed. His red hair brushing his forehead, the bruises so clear on his pale skin.
Bored isn’t the right word. I’d felt so empty. And now? Well, now I’m…
Obsessed? Just a little maybe.
“Can you come? If the guy comes back, I need to make sure someone’s here to catch him.”
For a second, he’s silent. I worry that I’ve let on more than I meant to, but after another breath, he sighs. “Give me half an hour. I’ll be there.”
“Thanks, Dad.” I hang up before he has a chance to ask any more questions, and lean back against Ranen’s door.
It won’t take me long to do everything I need to do, but I already feel dread building in my chest at the thought of leaving Ranen alone, even if I know he won’t wake up anytime soon. Inviting my dad into my personal affairs when I’m not sure how to explain the emotions growing a life of their own in my chest is probably a bad idea.
I look at Ranen one more time and realize I really don’t care. Seeing him in person, holding him, feeling how fragile his body was in my arms? I’m ready to burn the entire rulebook if it means I can keep him.
Yeah, obsessed is probably the right word.
Exactly half an hour later, Dad comes around the corner with a curious expression in his dark eyes. He’s a few inches shorter than me, and his dark hair is going gray at the temples, but he’s aged well. Maybe it’s because we both work with our hands—just because we both kill doesn’t mean we don’t have to pay bills. I’ve always assumed I inherited my monster from him. My mother died when I was young, but from all accounts, she was… sweet.
I sometimes wonder if her loss is the reason Dad tells me not to get involved with anyone, but I haven’t bothered questioning him on it. Until Ranen, the thought of caring about someone enough to get attached was laughable.
I make sure not to look back into the room again when I step forward.
“Sorry I woke you. I just need a few hours to track some things down.” It’s a lie. I need a few hours to clear Ranen’s apartment and get shit set up. The police are already done, and I took Ranen’s key out of his bag.
“When yourfriendis out of the hospital, how about you bring him over and tell me all about it?” The way he emphasizes the wordfriendalmost makes me frown. I’m not that transparent, am I? I shrug instead of reacting.
“Sure. His nurse should be by soon to give him more medication. You’ll probably be bored… You know I like to be careful, though.”
“You’reusuallyvery careful, North.”
Shit. I’m not fooling him at all. I smile as innocently as I can and start heading down the hallway.
“I’ll explain everything when we’re out of the hospital, okay?”
That was probably a lie, too... but if it meant I could get him off my back for now, I was going to take it. Dad frowns at me, but there’s something in his dark expression, a little ounce of indulgence that tells me I’m getting away with this.
At least for now.
For now is all I need.
I walk to my car and drive straight to my house. I need weapons, and I need to pack a few bags. Just like with my Dad, I’m going on the thought that it will be easier to ask forgiveness than permission. So… I’m not giving Ranen a choice. I’m not going to leave him at his apartment, but I want to make sure I can lure out the asshole who tried to hurt him.
At the end of the day, there’s really only one option. There’s only ever been one option.
I can’t leave him alone.
Chapter 5
Ranen
I’m not sure howlong I was in my medication-induced slumber, but I wake up in less pain than I fell asleep with. I’m not sure whether it’s because I’m doped up on whatever the nurse put in my IV or just that my injuries aren’t as bad as I thought.
I open my heavy eyelids and stare up at the ceiling, trying to gather my bearings. Fuck, I can’t believe someone attacked me in my own apartment. I can’t even imagine who it could be. It could be anyone. Since I have a public site, someone smart enough could have traced my location.
