The Cunning (18+)

57

"Another party?" Madison sighed, staring up at the ceiling from the bed. Jase chuckled. He was sitting on the desk, phone in hand.

"You don't have to come downstairs if you don't want to," he replied.

Madison rolled over, looking at him like he was stupid. "I sit in this room alone all the time. I'm not doing that if there's something else to do." She nodded to his hand. "The dressing on that needs changing."

Jase looked up, lip between his teeth and brows together in question. It happened three days ago but the cut had already escaped his mind, too busy with other things. The pain was closer to a tickle and the feeling had returned to his fingers, though he got pins and needles in his pinky often.

"You can do it in a bit," he said.

"I can do it?" Madison repeated.

Jase smirked, not looking back up from his phone screen. "You look after me. I look after you."

Madison rolled her eyes, pretending the blood hadn't rushed to her cheeks. "Go and get the first aid kit then."

Jase slid off the desk and retrieved the bandages and wipes, sitting on the edge of the bed. Madison took his hand and carefully unravelled the dressing. Now the wound had closed, it didn't look half as bad. She wiped the thin gash, placing another cotton pad over and rewrapping it.

"Cheers," Jase said, examining the fresh binding.

"You said you were going to deal with the person who did this," she said. Jase hummed. "Did you?"

He peered at her through his lashes. It was one of Mitch's runners that had taken a swipe. No doubt in an attempt to impress Mitch. Adam and Tommy had gone out to find him when Jase was at hospital. It hadn't taken them long. Jase had more eyes and ears than he cared to count, the attacker hadn't even bothered to change clothes. Instead, he'd gone straight to one of their dealer's houses and started running his mouth about causing 'real damage' to Jase Davies. He'd been kept in a garage Ramon owned and Jase would return the damage tenfold. With his good hand, of course.

"What kind of answer are you looking for?" he questioned.

Madison poked her tongue in her cheek, pulling the sleeves of her hoodie over her hands and rolling her shoulders. "I guess what I really mean is, this isn't going to happen again, is it?"

One corner of Jase's mouth tugged upwards, exposing a shallow dimple. "I can't make any promises but it won't be him that tries."

The answer was enough to satisfy Madison, she didn't need details which was good because Jase didn't fancy giving them.

"Why do you throw so many parties?" she asked, changing the subject.

"Why risk selling drugs on the street when you can do it from the comfort of your own home?"

"Is Benny going to be here? I haven't seen him in a while."

"His mum's ill. He's out of town." Jase tilted his head. "Why?" he questioned, though he could take an educated guess.

"Because you're different when he's around," she replied, picking up her hairbrush and running it through her long waves. Jase grunted but didn't ask what she meant, he knew he was different, it was no mistake.

"Do you want chicken nuggets for dinner?" he asked, avoiding the elephant she'd let into the room with her statement. Madison nodded and put her brush down. "Did you want anything with them?"

"Just ketchup."

"Just ketchup," he repeated, already on his way out.

He'd been kinder to her since his injury. However, this newfound bond was making it difficult for Madison to keep her sights on the end goal. Nice or not, Jase couldn't save her and with the lack of interference from her dad, it was down to Madison to save herself.