I stroll down the corridor away from my room where I had just left a dangerous killer to sleep in my bed. Out of context, it really does sound crazy but with some alcohol already absorbed in my system, I feel my familiar affection for her glow once more within me, heating me from the inside against the terrible chill induced by my rage. I would be lying if I said I didn’t still feel angry towards her for everything she’d done, but as always, Kyle’s rational words, from my earlier episode, were a parachute to counteract my rage. The worst part about all this shit is that I cannot, for the life of me, get the reel of what had just happened off replay. The image of her bruised, naked body will now and forever be burned into the inside of my eyelids.
“I hate to interrupt such a beautiful moment between you two but there are other people who wish to use the showers.” I try to make a joke as I plaster a smile on my face to hide my rage; I had told Jax he wasn’t allowed anywhere near Anne as he had gone completely over the line on her first day here. I had even told the others to watch him because of what he might do, and surprise-surprise, I was right! I remember that I’m still holding Anne so I swiftly put her down and stand, side-on, between her and Jax, never letting my hand fall from her waist ; I’m not quite sure who I’m protecting, but I know who I’m angry at. “You will not touch or go near her again, do I make myself clear?!” I wait for an answer from Jax but he seems too fuming to respond. “Right, Mark, Kyle, take Jax to one of the cells, I need to have a little chat with him…as for you,” I turn towards Anne and almost gasp, she has deep red marks all over her body; they completely distract me from her…assets. Her long brown hair is wet, tangled and ugly but her pretty face, even with the bruising that still shadows it, is full of life and defiance. I lean in close and take in a quick whiff of her musky, sweet scent before I tell her quietly, and rather reluctantly, that she needs to get some clothes on. In the dim light it’s hard to tell but I swear I see her blush; I smile. Unfortunately I no longer have a reason to have my hand around her waist so I’m forced to remove it and instead grip her wrist, telling myself it’s because she might make a run for it. “Well go on then!” The guys are still standing there like lemons and I wait for them to scurry out the door with Jax before I turn once again to Anne. “Judging by the look of you, Anne, I think you should have another shower,” I try to joke about it, knowing how any care I show now is a weakness she can exploit. But I do care, the sight of her bruised body is both beautiful and horrifying, an image that would haunt me for the rest of my life.
On this occasion, Anne had given me hope for her future; she hadn’t fought back when she could have. She chose to take a beating. Whether it was because I had broken down with liquor in front of her or because she felt she deserved punishment for her actions, or both, she had sacrificed her own well-being and laid her life on the line for a reason, and I needed to find out what that reason was. I add this question to the long list of questions I have to ask her in as I take quick strides down the corridor towards the cells. I also remind myself to find nearby accommodation to my room so that I can keep an eye on Anne. I know that I ought to distance myself from her, to save myself from being affected by her, but influence works both ways so in order to change the way she thinks, I need to be close to her, even closer than I was before. And it wasn’t going to happen overnight.
I’m turning the last corner before the cells and I see Seb and Chris standing outside in their usual boyish stance, like they’d be ready for anything.
“You took your time.” I hear one of the twins speak, but I don’t know which one.
“Ye, I had to take care of Anne before I came here.” They nod simultaneously and smile,
“Take care of her, huh? Is that what you kids are calling it these days…” They smirk, trying to contain their laughter, but it bursts out of them anyway.
“You know, that old joke would’ve worked better if you guys were older than me. And I wouldn’t…” But my brain is already creating the scene in my mind… man…. I need to get my head out of the gutter… and keep it out. My brain replies with the naked memory of Anne; I shake my head, what is wrong with me?! I look up at the twins who are still smirking, their lips quivering as they try to restrain the chuckles threatening to explode from within. “Right, haha, now please move aside; I need to have a word with Jax.” They move to either side of the cell door, silencing their chuckles as I saunter past. I walk in to see Kyle and Mark trying to strap Jax into a chair.
“Why the hell are you guys protecting that little bitch?!!” Jax shouts, twisting and jerking in his chair to escape as Kyle and Mark hold him down; Kyle shoots me a meaningful glare, clearly considering sedating him.
“Calm the fuck down, Jax, what the hell has gotten into you?”
“Gotten into me?! Tell me this, who’s watching that bitch right now? You think she will appreciate you giving her a little freedom?! She will kill us, Fin!”
“Answer me this, Jax, did she hurt you today?”
“She fuckin’ would’ve, but I got her first and then you guys ruined everything! I was about to eliminate a major problem round here!”
“Don’t kid yourself, Jax, she could easily have retaliated and hurt you; she’s probably been trained since infancy.”
“What the hell happened to you, Fin?! Not two hours ago, you were raging at her when she killed Nathan and Andy, now you’re pals?”
“I’m not on her side now, if that’s what you’re asking, but beating her up will do absolutely nothing for our cause, in fact it makes what we brought her here for, a hell of a lot harder. She could be a great asset to have on our team but we need her trust in order to do that.”
“Fine. Fine! If you guys want to be stupid then you can do it without me; I want nothing more to do with her.” Jax relaxes in his chair and crosses his arms, refusing to look at any of us. I nod over at Kyle and Mark and they take their restraining arms off Jax and leave the cell to wait for me outside. I turn to leave, taking one last glance at Jax before I too walk out the cell. I would take him at least a few hours before he will talk to any of us. Once outside the cell, I shut the door behind me and turn to face Mark and Kyle. Mark is the first to speak,
“I’m behind you and all that, Fin, but in all seriousness, who is watching Anne right now?”
“In truth…nobody…I was going back to guard her after I spoke to Jax.” Their eyes widen in shock, Seb, Chris, Mark…even Kyle’s.
“Fin! What the hell?! At least I was with her when I took her to the showers, plus I told Zack where I was going.” It surprises me that Kyle would be so against me trying to gain her trust…perhaps my manoeuvre was too risky… Now Mark is chiming in again,
“So you’re telling me that we have a lone killer, with nobody watching her, roaming the bunker?” His tone is casually disbelieving, it almost makes me laugh at how ridiculous we sounded.
“No, I’m telling you that we have a lone killer, with nobody watching her, sleeping in my bed.” I hadn’t immediately realised how that had sounded, and it’s only when smirks start to appear on the faces around me, that I actually hear what I said. “Not that way, you idiots, she’s sleeping in my bed ‘cos she needs some rest before that Spanish inquisition you guys planned when she arrived.”
“How do you know she’s sleeping then, Fin?” Seb or Chris attempts to make a humorous remark, but it’s only then that all of us realise that, in reality, Anne could be anywhere by now… I’m barged into the wall as we all simultaneously make a dash for my room.
YOU ARE READING
The Agency
ActionBorn to the black market, Renn is bound to her dictated future and must fulfill anything that is asked of her. But knowing little of the outside world, she is sent out into unfamiliar territory and falls into the hands of an unexpected ally. As trus...
