Midnight Toxicity

40.

Instead of fighting, I did as he demanded. 

Quickly and quietly, Ian helped wash my long hair. The smell of the fire and pond was disgusting. Deep cuts on my lower legs and feet burned like a bitch. None was so bad that I needed sutures, but he surprised me by pulling a tube of liquid stitches from his jeans after wrapping me up once more in a bath towel.

His motions were perfunctory, caring for me in one of my darkest times. He would make a prize daddy someday, given how he ensured that those around him were not bleeding to death and were comfortably snuggled in warmth before bed.

"Just like old times," I teased through gritted teeth as he pulled the skin of my arm in place. It might leave a scar, but I could take care of it later. "Why are you here? I told you to stay away from me."

He focused on his work, not replying for a long time.

"The truth is that I prefer seeing you naked, not injured, and I keep getting both. What were you thinking? You should have aborted the mission after realizing you were separated from your partner."

"Who told you that?"

He finally met my gaze, and his stare was as cold as his hands. "If you think that anything you do is a secret, you need to pay better attention to your surroundings."

My temper rose, as it always did with any interaction with Ian. "You weren't there. Also, I have no idea what you mean."

He snorted, leaning away from me with a secret smile. Smug bastard. "For what it is worth, I'm glad you made it back. Looks like you took a beating and gave one as well. Your knuckles will take a few weeks to heal if you keep them wrapped."

"Malik is waiting to fix me up."

Being so close to Ian and having to keep the terrible truth of what happened to me quiet was another form of torture on top of what I had endured. I remember a time when I didn't care if people knew what I was doing because I tried to live my truth, regardless of what it looked like from the outside.

"I have a favor to ask," I whispered earnestly. "I wouldn't bother, but you're the only one I trust."

He sighed, beginning to clean up the bloody wash rags. "No shit? Are you finally listening to me?"

"Yes. I remember you begged me to trust you."

"I didn't beg! What about Chace?"

"We're... complicated."

"You're fucking him?" He didn't look up from picking up my discarded towels.

"It doesn't matter. We have a different relationship. He is my partner, but I'm trying to trust you. Will you help me?"

He turned his back. "If I do, will you find a way out of this place? You are going to get killed, and they won't bat an eye."

"You would?"

"My brother loves you. Please don't die in a place he's never heard of. Go back, Charlize. You can start over with your real friends, not these cutthroats."

How dare he bring up Jack? Not now. I was barely keeping my emotions in check, and recalling my best friend—who would have defended me to his last breath in those woods against Colton and his monstrous brother—nearly made me drop to my knees. There was always going to be barriers between Ian and me, and it started with Jack.

"I'm a killer." I hissed, dropping my head at the confession. "I can't return. Not now. I'm feeling dedicated to Mr. Golding. He's really taken care of me." I threw in a few lies so he would believe I was all-in on this gangster's shit.