Pirate City

Chapter 21 Ice boy

Luna's POV

Six shots. Blanks. He isn't dead. If Angel wanted to kill him he would have died with one.

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Incomprehensible yells erupted after the shots, followed by a car door closing and the engine starting up.

Angel came back inside and locked the door, slipping the gun back into the holster at his hips. I watched him numbly as he made his way toward me, too tired to move away. If he had wanted to kill me at that moment I wouldn't have put up much of a fight. I couldn't.

"How are you feeling?" He looked concerned.

"Pretty beat up," I mumbled. I smiled as blood dripped from the cut on my face. His expression didn't change. I stopped smiling. My ribs hurt.

"Come to the kitchen, I'll help you there." I was scared to move.

"I can't," I started shaking; both from exhaustion and fear that he would be angry with me. He didn't say anything, picked me up gently, and started to carry me to the kitchen. He carried me a little too easily, I wasn't that light. Was I?

I bit down on my tongue as he carried me, careful not to put too much pressure on my bruises. I let myself relax in his arms.

Stabbing pain ran up my spine as he carefully sat me on the white counter. I resisted the urge to lie down across the table; the counter was cold. I was exhausted.

Angel placed a large bowl of ice and water on the counter and told me to soak my hands.

"That'll help bring you back around." The ice made cold waves rush under my skin. It did help. My hands didn't hurt though, it was the rest of my body that felt fucked up. I pulled my hands out of the water and wiped them on my bare legs.

"What hurts the most?" I pointed to my shoulders, then my ribs, and finally to my back, where the final mark had been drawn. "Take off your shirt." He commanded, grabbing a tea towel hanging from the oven door. I hesitated, not sure how to begin without making things worse.

He seemed to read my thoughts, "I'll be gentle." His warm knuckles brushed against the bare skin on my stomach as started lifting my shirt, I winced as his cold touch sent goosebumps up my body.

"Fuck." He cursed under his breath when he saw the damage.

"Language." I teased, trying to lighten the mood a little bit. I didn't want to say anything but it felt weird having someone care for me, I could take care of myself.

"Luna, this isn't good." If he thought this was bad...

Warm hands slid across my back, I winced as he traced the bruises. "Has he done this before?" He asked, trying to catch my gaze. I stayed quiet and shifted around. "Lu-"

"No of course not." I interrupted, suddenly frustrated. The edge of the counter felt cold under my hands as I clenched and unclenched my fingers. I thought of trying to get up to leave before Angel grabbed a fistful of my shirt and effortlessly lifted it over my head.

I looked down at my ribs and saw a massive bruise across my right side. My eyes shot back up as soon as they landed; seeing it made it hurt more. I felt like I was going to pass out.