Chapter Eight.

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Raphael couldn't hear the men screaming or the planes flying overhead, his ears ringing was the only sound. He glanced around choking on smoke and trying to find his men, any of them.

He tried to stand but fell to his knees, a searing pain shooting through his back, a pounding in his head. He was wounded and his blood covered hands let him know it was pretty severe.

He couldn't see any of his men, the sun was shining too brightly in his eyes, the road too filled with smoke.

He tried again to stand, struggling to his feet and then she was there.

She grabbed him around the waist hauling his body against hers.

"Get back!" He yelled.

"Not without you!"

"Chloe..."

The gunshots rang out from seemingly all over and she pulled him behind an overturned car, shoving him to the ground. He winced at the pain the quick movement caused.

"You shouldn't have come after me," He said.

"We need to get your head bandaged, can you see out of your left eye?" She asked, waving a small penlight in his face.

"Chloe...."

"Raph," She interrupted.

He fell silent it was no use arguing with her and he knew it, even if she had been ordered to stay put she wouldn't Chloe only ever did what she wanted.

He let his head fall back, his face hurt and he couldn't see or hear that well, he guessed he must be hurt pretty bad.

"I'm going to go get back up and get you out of here," She called over the gunshots.

"No! Chloe."

"I'll be right back.

"Chloe!"

She leaned forward giving him a quick kiss on the cheek  and he tried in vain to grab her and stop her, she bolted from behind the car and there was nothing he could do.


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Raphael jolted upright, his heart pounding in his chest his breathing ragged, he looked around the dark room. He wasn't with Chloe that was years ago he was in his cabin battling a fever.

After his bath, he had managed to pull on his boxers and asked Tess to bring him sweatpants he put those on and then with her help collapsed into bed.

With a shaky hand, he reached for his glass of water only to find it empty. He winced and debated getting up but he was so worn out from the few hours he had been up.

"Tess?" He called out to her.

A second later the door opened to the room and she quietly slipped inside.

"Are you okay? You were making noise you sounded in pain."

"I need some water, do you mind?" He asked.

"No, not at all."

She took his glass and disappeared leaving him alone with his lucid thoughts. She was an odd woman, she could have let him die in the woods but she didn't and then she spent days caring for him.

He wasn't used to people being kind to him or caring for him and it set him off balance.

She returned with the glass filled with cold water and when she handed it to him, his fingers brushed against hers.

"Thank you."

"You're welcome, are you feeling okay?"

She pressed a hand to his forehead and he realized then how cold she was, how cold the entire cabin was. The Generator had given out earlier that day and while they had the single fireplace the generator helped circulate the heat.

"You're cold," He said, catching her wrist.

"I'm fine."

He hesitated, feeling guilty. He had murdered her boss in front of her, kidnapped her and dragged her here. He had tried not to be cruel to her but he hadn't been kind either and she had repaid him with kindness.

"Get in bed," He said.

"What? No." She pulled her wrist.

"It's cold we can use body heat, get in bed." He insisted.

"No...please...please don't." She begged pulling harder.

"I don't want to have sex with you, I just don't want to find you frozen to death."

She let out a soft whimpering noise but he didn't release her, clearly, she was afraid that he planned to hurt her.

"If I wanted to rape you I would have when I was healthier."

She glanced at the bed and he knew she wanted to give in. She had given him all of the blankets and the bed was warm thanks to his fever. Her small wrist was cold as ice.

"Get in."

She moved towards the bed and he released her, he moved over in the bed and she climbed in sighing heavily when she pulled the blankets over her body.

Rolling over he realized he could feel the cold seeping off of her body and he shook his head.

"You're frozen."

"I would have been fine. I kept the fire going."

"It wouldn't be enough without blankets."

She didn't reply but he could feel her still shivering despite the blankets. He rolled over, pulling her body against his and wrapping his legs around hers.

"What are you doing!?" She shoved at him.

"I'm keeping you warm, it's the least I can do. Relax, you're not my type."

"Please...don't hurt me."

She sounded genuinely scared and he didn't blame her but it still made him feel lower than dirt. He didn't want her to be afraid.

"I won't, not now."

She gave a small nod then relaxed into his hold, his warmth had to feel good to her body and her cold body felt like heaven to his feverish skin. Together they fell into a deep and thankfully for Raphael a dreamless sleep


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