Never Enough Time | Huskerdust

Chap 38 - Chains

When he offered to keep Husk alive only if I stayed, there wasn't anything I could do. Now, if I even find a way out, I'll never be able to leave without being the cause of his death.

I choke back tears, my face planted in my hands while Keith rubs my back in large circles. I demanded some time alone after what Valentino said to me which he happily gave me since he knew he was right. He's always right, even when he's wrong. I start sobbing even more and Keith sighs. "I-I'm sor—hiccup—ry, Ke—hiccup—eith." I wipe my eyes and my snot, "ugh, I'm r-really—hiccup—sorry." He doesn't say anything, just wraps his arms around me and pulls me closer.

"Don't apologize, Angel. We're in this together." He keeps rubbing my back in circles.

A thought pops in my head and I push my hands against his chest slightly to look at him. I search his eyes for something, anything, but when I don't find what I need, I ask anyway, "He did the same thing to you didn't he?" Keith blinked slowly before pulling my head back into his chest.

He rests his head on mine, my hair muffling his words, "Let's not talk about it, okay?" Those words make me cry harder, knowing he went through what I did.

"I'm—"

"Hush," Keith demanded and I shut my mouth tightly watching my tears fall onto the floor in a blurry gaze.

...

"Come on, get up. We've wasted enough time here. You have to talk to Valentino." I gulp and Keith squeezes my shoulders staring at me intently, "You have to do this. You can demand things from him—negotiate with him. He will do almost anything for you."

"Almost?" I try to joke but he doesn't laugh. I sigh and rub my temples with my fingers, "It won't work. He's smarter than he looks."

"So are you."

I raise a brow, "I'm offended."

Keith deadpans and I shrug, "I'll see what I can do, but I can't promise it'll be much." He nods and pushes me out the door.

"He's down at the workshop, I'll try to get Adam and Sera away from him while you do the talking." I groan and his response is: "You're good at talking, it makes people hate how logical you can be."

A smile curls its way onto my lips, "Did you just... compliment me?" The smile's there for a second before it's covered with a non-convincing frown.

"Just hurry it up."

He follows me down to their workshop—or whatever they call it—and I walk to Valentino while Keith goes to talk to Sera who seems to be scolding Adam for a thing or two. I straighten my back, pulling my shoulders up with false confidence.

I don't have to say anything for him to know I'm here. He turns around when I get ten feet away from him and I pause at three. His smile is unmistakably shining with victory as he takes a step closer... another step that I force myself to stay put for.

"Angelito... Finally made your decision?" He takes a hand and moves it to my face, but it doesn't touch, just lingers over my cheek so I can feel the heat of it. I flinch when he draws back and only when he moves his hand around my neck do I answer.

"Yes." My right hand comes up to his wrist and tears it away from my throat as I glare at Valentino.

His smile curves up deviously, "And that is...?"

"I'll do it," He starts to speak, but I continue before words come out, "But I'll only stay if you let me check on him every day and you let me take care of Velvette."

His eyes narrow in confusion, "How—? Never mind," He shakes his head, "You're remembering stuff, right," He mumbles to himself. He stares at me for a moment before tapping his chin thoughtfully. When he finishes thinking, his chin is up and his eyes narrow from peering down at me, "Anything else you would want, Angelito?" I gulp and he smiles, "Or do you need some more time to talk with that peacock friend of yours?" How did he know I was talking to Keith before this? It's almost as if he heard my question because his smile grows as he answers, "I have eyes and ears everywhere, mi amor, I know where you are, what you talk about, what you do, at all times."