A Villainous Affair

Chapter 5

So much for what was best.

Scarlet sat on a chair in her stark flat. Across from her, Herb lay on the couch, unconscious, an ice pack on his forehead. A single pink-shaded lamp lit the sparsely furnished living room.

She badly wanted to take a hot bath, but feared he'd wake up while she was in the bathroom. Not a good idea when a strange man currently occupied one's couch. Herb seemed harmless, but still....

He began to stir. With a low moan, he brought his hand to his face. Long fingers felt around the ice pack. "Wha...?"

Finally. "How are you feeling?"

"Who's there?"

"It's me, Scarlet. From Gastro's."

"Riiiiight. Okay. Hi. My head feels like someone dropped a tank on it, but I'll live. Ow."

"You can take the ice off in a few minutes, but you ought to rest some more. And you should probably see a doctor."

Herb made a slight adjustment to the ice pack so he could see her. "Am I at your place? How did you get me here?"

Scarlet shrugged. "Does it matter?"

He was silent for a moment. "I guess not. Thanks for saving me."

She blinked in surprise. "But I didn't save you. He knocked you out."

"Yeah, but you were coming to rescue me. And you didn't have to leave me back there."

Scarlet wasn't sure how to respond to that, so she looked down and examined her nails. A few were chipped from all the fighting. And black smudges covered her hands. She really needed that bath.

"Would it be too much to ask if my trunk is here?"

"It's near the door."

"Sweet. Say, your fight moves are far out. Where'd you learn to do all that?"

"Spent a few years training in a remote Chinese village near the Yangtze River."

"What's your specialty?"

"Thievery. Among other things."

"I'd love to hear more about those 'other things'."

"Is that so?"

Herb smiled. "You know, we made a great team back there. Your fighting skills, my inventions. We could really go places together."

Scarlet flashed her eyes at him. "Hold it right there, buddy. I don't even know you and I'm certainly not on your team. Your inventions are great, but that doesn't make us partners. Or even potential ones."

His face fell. "Sorry. I didn't mean to offend you. I just thought...uh...."

She began pacing the worn carpet. "This was a mistake. I shouldn't have brought you here." She threw up her hands in exasperation. "Why did I bring him here? I don't know. So stupid." Suddenly remembering she had company, she dropped her voice to a mumble. "This is fucking unbelievable. You're going to ruin everything!"

She reared her arm back and punched the wall so hard it caused a dent. "Shit, that hurt."

As she stood there panting and rubbing her injured hand, she noticed Herb moving. He sat up and removed the ice pack. She winced upon seeing the ugly bruise marring his face. Despite her effort to keep her distance from him, guilt plagued her. She should have intervened faster.

He regarded her with a gentle expression. "Whatever happened to you, I'm very sorry."

She gaped at not only his words, but also his tender voice. He was feeling sorry for her?

"If I could, I'd build a time machine and travel back to take your place so you wouldn't have to endure all that pain. I can't imagine the horrors you've been through. But since I can't build a time machine, or at least, not until I have enough money...well, please know the thought is in me. One day, I'll make it happen. I'll do everything within my power to make your pain go away."

Scarlet stared at him, momentarily stunned. Who is this guy? And what the hell was he trying to do, kill her with kindness? Because unlike other people, kindness was poison to her. And love was deadly. She knew all too well the danger of trusting someone unconditionally. She'd already been down that path-and she wouldn't be going there again.

Scarlet turned away and stood by the window. Crossed her arms. The view outside was only a brick wall, but it was infinitely more bearable than Herb's sympathetic expression. The room grew quiet-too quiet. He was probably waiting for her to open up and spill all of her deep, dark secrets. Well, it wasn't gonna happen.

She spoke without turning around. "Okay. You can go now."

She knew she sounded cold and ungrateful, but she couldn't afford to care. And she certainly couldn't afford to get close to anyone. Even if his name was Herb Jones and he was a total fox. Especially if his name was Herb Jones and he was a total fox. There were plenty of inventors in the villain world for her to choose from. Why complicate things with one who drank milk at a bar?

"I understand."

The couch springs sighed in relief as Herb stood. The ice pack thumped as he deposited it on the coffee table. He opened the door. She knew he paused there because a cool draft washed over her from the hall. Then came a series of clicks as he opened his trunk. He rummaged around inside.

Scarlet clenched her teeth. Goddammit, why wasn't he leaving already?

"You can keep the gear. My treat."

What? A gift? But she still refused to turn around. Or say goodbye.

The trunk wheels rumbled as he dragged the container along with him. Then the hinges creaked as he pulled the door shut behind him.

Scarlet hugged her body against a dark, roiling fear as Herb's footsteps faded down the hall. What the hell had happened to her tonight? And why did Herb's departure make her chest feel as though someone had just ripped her heart out?