The 9 lives of Cats and Gods (Merry Men Book 1)

Life 6

1.
Robin
I stare down at the letter lying on the table between us.

Good Day,
I know who you are. And I know what you have done. In one week's time I will send all of my evidence to the police. If you want to stop me, you're going to have to kill me, sadly however, by the time you read this I'll likely already be dead. My associate however will be arriving shortly to take revenge upon you in my place. May the best man live!

Sebastian (Bash) Blake
Nottingham Academy
Oak Harbor, WA

"Robin, he played us, he must have changed the order of suspects on his phone so you'd go to Naples. A poisoner named Brent Milton was number five, he was apprehended two hours ago based on surveillance footage Bash sent to police hours before he was hospitalized. Get out of there."
"He sent me here to kill you," I say, looking at the letter.
"It would seem so. However if he has such pull on you, you must be a murderer as well. Archer perhaps?" He asks, nodding, casually picking up a vial.
"Perhaps," I say, my accent for the night is smooth southern drawl. I'm sure he suspects it's fake but that doesn't matter. "What is that?"
"Nitroglycerin. I'm sure you're clever enough to realize that if you kill me right now, I drop it, and we both go up in smoke. There's enough explosive in this cabin to ensure they never find our remains," he says.
"Robin, just get out of there. I'm not even in the entire drive this is just what Bash wanted me to find," Marianna says.
"He doubled crossed you? Or something like that?" Naples asks, "You're clearly surprised. You did not get one of these then? They've become a bit famous, if you follow the news. Though I believe mine has some edits. I doubted it's veracity."
"No that's real, so why did you wait? He clearly knew who you were," I say.
"To be honest? I was intrigued. Our Blake seems like a clever fellow. If dead. So I have a proposition for you, Mr. Archer," he says, looking me up and down a bit, "You seem like a clever fellow. One who doesn't like losing. We're clearly both Blake's pawns. So what do you say we double cross him? We both walk out of here, and never speak again. We have no quarrel you and I."
"I just got into his email—he told the police you'd be there—they're on their way now, he told them Declan Fox was going to murder Naples you need to get out of there," Marianna says, her voice tight with concern, "Go into the woods, but go."
"So what do you say, Mr. Archer?"
"It's just Archer, actually," I say.
"I'm sure you realize now that you've been tricked. But there is no need for violence, we have no reason not to cooperate to our full advantage. So lower your bow, and I will put down my nitroglycerin, and we'll walk out of here, both winners," Naples says, coolly, holding up the vial, "Or I drop it. Because I don't plan on being caught. But why chose that when we can both live?"
"Because you're the bad guy, and I'm trying—really fucking hard here— to be the good guy," I say, and then I rapidly notch my bow and fire, hitting not him but the light fixture above his head. As I dive from the cabin, the light falls hitting him and causing him to drop the nitroglycerin.
I run  and then just jump, covering my head and crumpling my face into the dirt and pine needles as the resulting explosion echoes behind me and smoke fills my. nose.
"Robin? Are you all right?"
"Flame retardant cape was a good investment. You were right. I was wrong, worth every penny," I say, coughing and climbing to my feet painfully.
"Thank god," she breaths.
"You're welcome," I say, to make her laugh, "I'll be home soon."
I have to hike deep into the forest then loop out to the main road where I left the van. Police and fire are heading in the other direction. No real chance of forest fire, got to love the Pacific Northwest in the winter, it's already raining and everything is damp constantly. Rocket calls to tell us police have swarmed the hospital ergo he left, how dare I blow something up without him, and Bash is still in the ICU.
I get back to the monastery and park in the drive. Marianna runs out to meet me, despite the rain. I surprise myself by moving to her, and catching her up in my arms for a little spin.
"I love you," I say, kissing her lips quickly.
"You don't have to say it," she says, pressing her face against mine.
"I love you, I love you, I love you, and I never want to hurt you, and I'm a fool and someday I'll believe someone can love me anyway," I say, pressing my face against hers, which is cool and damp with rain.
"I do love you," she says, arms about my neck, "When I heard that explosion—I thought I'd lost you."
"I've told you. I'm the worst thing that walks the night," I say, kissing her again, "Let's go inside. You're soaked."
"You're soaked," she laughs.
I tug her to my room, locking the door before pinning her against it for a kiss.
"What about—,"
"Nothing. I give up on thinking about everything. I'm telling you I'm ready," I say, kissing her again.
"You don't have to be."
"I want to be, with you," I say, kissing her again, "With you. I want to be this person." My voice has slipped back into the one I made for her. "I want to come home, to you."
"Okay," she says, kissing me gently, "But not tonight."
"Why?" I ask, frowning.
"I want you to believe it another day."
"I will," I say, stroking her face.
"Then do," she says, patting my chest, "I can't fix you, Robby. Even if I want to. And I can't make everything okay inside your head, as much as I may try."
"Will you stay with me tonight anyway?" I ask, pressing my forehead against hers. "It doesn't have to be forever, I'm just saying—,"
"Keep away the demons?" She asks.
"Keep me from being the demon, more like," I sigh.
"Yeah, of course," she says, putting a hand through my wet hair. "You're so cold."
"So warm me up. I want to kiss you," I sigh, tugging her into my arms.
"You want to forget him," she says.
"Is that wrong?" I ask.
"No, but I'm not your cure."
"You are good for me, he tried to kill me tonight, damn near succeeded. I'm stupid and an idiot I know," I say.
"Good," she smiles a little, "Go on and kiss me then."
I kiss her and wish I couldn't think while I do it. Then I kiss her more to try to forget the taste of him in my mouth. It doesn't work when I know he's lying in a hospital bed fighting for his life. After so slyly trying to steal mine.