Chapter Seven
Her leg itched horribly. That was the first thing Red noticed when she woke up several hours later. But from experience, she knew that all wounds itched when they were healing. She reached beside her for the little bottle of painkillers, tapping two into her palm, and swallowed them dry without hesitation. Hell, she didn't even know what they were. But it hardly mattered. They took the edge off, and that was all she needed.
Wincing, Red sat up and looked out of the window. The warm light of late afternoon greeted her weary eyes, glinting off the sea and changing the leaves on the trees to flashing emerald and honey. For the first time in so many, many months…she felt happy. Someone had taken care of her. Someone had shown her mercy. Compassion. Kindness. She grinned and looked down at Bandit, asleep on the pillow beside her.
"We might make it after all, friend. And you even got a little treat. It's been forever since you had tinned kitty food, that must have been terrific. Your mommy certainly enjoyed her dinner." She rumpled the fur on his belly, and he slowly opened his eyes and huffed a little sigh, rolling over onto his back to grant her better access. Red laughed and petted him for a little while, then swung her legs over the side of the bed and reached for her crutches. It was time to get up. Wash her hair. Put things away in the kitchen and hide the cash for future use. Maybe do a little reading. The house had warmed up and she felt delighted at the change. Things seemed so much less bleak, suddenly.
The day passed in lazy pleasure. Red warmed a bowl of water in the sun and thoroughly washed her greasy hair, then combed out all the tangles and lay back in the yard to spread out her hair and dry it. Bandit prowled happily about the perimeter of the house, stalking spiders and ants and rolling in the grass. Near suppertime Red went inside again and opened another can of cat food, then a tin of potted meat and a few slices of bread which she toasted painstakingly over a candle. A little mustard, a cup of cold water stirred with dry milk powder and cocoa mix, a chunk of cheese and an apple made up her dinner. It seemed a feast. She sighed and watched Bandit tucking in beside her on the floor, lit by the cheerful glow of the oil lamps in the kitchen and living room.
"To the Tremors." Red told him, and lifted her glass to her lips.
A knock sounded at the door. She paused, fear flooding her veins, and froze in place. But then she remembered that Tsugi had promised to come down to check on her. Smiling, she rose to her feet and gripped the crutches, then limped to the door and threw it open.
"Hello, neighbor."
Tsugi smiled back, looking tired and beautiful. She lifted a box in her hands and lightly rattled it.
"I've brought you something. May I come in?"
Red nodded, limping back out of the way.
"Please do. I've just made dinner, would you like some? It should only take another ten minutes to toast more bread."
Her new friend smiled and stepped inside, setting the box on the table.
"I don't think you'll be needing to do any such thing. I've brought you a camping stove with extra propane. And that's not all. Lester said that as soon as he's up and out of bed, he'll splice you into the city power lines and get the electricity on in here."
Red opened her mouth in delighted surprise, then shut it, tilting her head.
"That sounds illegal."
"It is illegal. But no one is going to catch you, Red. Trust me…no city inspectors come here. They have a way of not showing up for work the next day. Or any day. We'll get you heat and light in no time. Lester should be up and walking within two weeks. Jeeves is already seeing shapes and shadows and he'll be fine in about four more days. Darwin will sleep for three days and then get up as right as rain the same way he always does." Tsugi laughed, shaking her head, "They have an almost mystical power to self-heal. Mmm, let's hope you have the same skill."
"I do. I tend to get injured a lot. It's a side effect of being an idiot."
Tsugi proudly lifted the propane stove out of its box and set it on the table while Red looked on dubiously.
"That looks like trouble." She said softly, leaning forward to get a better view. And it did. A squat, knobby, temperamental thing with a bulky tank attached to the bottom via a little hose. Red wondered how big a crater it would leave when it finally detonated. Tsugi rolled her eyes and pulled out a silver lighter.
"It's not trouble. It will cook your food and allow you to broaden your diet to include things other than canned soup. Look, I'll show you how to use it." She spun a small dial on the propane tank, then an even littler dial on the stove. A soft hiss signaled the presence of gas. Tsugi confidently flicked the lighter and ignited it, and the stove flared to life. She shut it off again, spinning both dials closed.
"See how I did that? Easy as breathing, even for you." Tsugi set the lighter down and smiled at Red, then gracefully sat across from her at the table. Red was not so sure, but she held her tongue. There were a few moments of silence, and then Tsugi gestured to the food on the table.
"Don't let me interrupt dinner. We can talk while you eat. How is your leg feeling?"
Red took a bite of toast and nodded.
"It itched when I woke up, and it's sore as all hell, but I'm positive it's going to be alright. I looked it over while I was taking a sponge bath. You did a great job with the stitches, Tsugi. Thanks."
"I've been doing it for quite a few years."
"As a…an opportunist?" Red sought for the right word. Vulture, Lester had said.
"Assassin. We do kill, after all. Yes, I did do a certain amount of healing with my old team. But I didn't start to truly learn until I came here. Lester is phenomenal. He keeps this family alive, and there's almost nothing he can't fix. Being with him, learning from him and loving him, it's worth everything I had to go through to stay here."
"What did you have to go through?"
For the first time since Red met her, Tsugi looked nervous.
"I'm talking too much. Let's have a look at your leg." She knelt down and slid up the pant leg on Red's left shin, inspecting the injury.
"It's healing. You're going to have a scar, but that's about it. You were one lucky lady."
"Hallelujah." Red said drily, chewing. Tsugi smirked and sat in her chair again. Bandit returned to his bowl and ate, watching the stranger warily. After a few more long moments, Tsugi finally cleared her throat.
"It's been a long time since I had another woman to talk to. I'm glad you're here."
Red felt warmth flood her chest. She put her hand on Tsugi's.
"I haven't had a friend in a long time either. I'm…I'm very glad that I'm a hopeless idiot around sharp tools. Well, around basically anything to be honest."
Tsugi chuckled.
"You should take martial arts training. That's what made me graceful. You become mindful of every movement."
Red nearly choked on a mouthful of potted meat.
"I did. Judo."
Tsugi raised an eyebrow.
"Oh?"
"Oh yes. A whole two weeks' worth. Then the instructor begged me to take boxing instead."
"Ha! And what did the boxing instructor have to say about that invitation, I wonder?"
Red sighed sadly.
"He told me to take Judo."
Tsugi came over every day, making the long walk down the hill to help Red clean and scour and repaint the walls, to weed the garden, to organize the garage. They chatted and laughed together, and Red found herself becoming happier than she had been in a long, long time. Three weeks went by, and then one day Tsugi's distinctive rap on the cottage door was followed by a gruff male voice.
"Open up, goddammit! This shit's heavy!"
Red couldn't believe it. She limped quickly to the door and flung it wide.
"Lester!"
He was standing up this time, only about a half inch taller than she was, and clean. No blood to be seen anywhere. He was even more or less normally clothed in jeans and an Iron Maiden t-shirt. His pale blue eyes were hidden behind dark wraparound sunglasses, bald head gleaming in the sun. Tsugi stood smiling beside him. In their hands they held large toolboxes, various electric appliances, and a covered dish. Red felt like hugging them both.
"Please come in! I'm delighted to see you!"
She moved away from the door, allowing them access. The marked improvements to the cottage were manifold since the day she'd arrived here, and it was with no shame at all that her new guests were invited inside. Bandit got up to launch into his customary vanishing act, but paused for a moment this time, looking up at Lester.
"Hey furball." Lester said softly, setting down his toolbox. He removed his sunglasses and surveyed the cat with unsmiling interest. Bandit looked back, blinking his grass green eyes a few times, his expression mild. Then, slowly, he withdrew beneath the sofa. But he did not run. Red shook her head in wonder.
"You must have some kind of special charm. That cat tolerates no one."
Lester shrugged and snapped open the toolbox while Tsugi moved to slide the covered dish into the oven to keep it protected while they worked.
"Meat loaf." She explained, and Red smiled.
"Heaven in a roasting pan. Does the presence of tools mean we are about to break a city ordinance here, you two?"
"Heh. More 'n one if I do my work right here. Have a seat on that sofa there an' stay the fuck outta my way. I don't like yer track record with anythin' of a challengin' nature." He collected an assortment of pliers, a bolt cutter, wires and tape, a screwdriver, sliding the items into a worn leather utility belt with practiced ease. Red glared at him sourly and retreated to the sofa to brood.
"I know how to do a few things. I can make French toast."
Lester didn't even dignify that with a response, slipping out of the front door to go about his business. Tsugi came over and sat by her, setting a paper bag in her lap.
"For you. A few toiletries, some soap. I thought that when we got the hot water heater working, you might want to really enjoy your bath."
Red's eyes filled with tears, and on impulse she reached over and threw her arms around her friend, so touched that she couldn't speak. Tsugi hugged her back and held her for a little while, understanding somehow that this moment was about far more than shampoo and deodorant. A wall had come down.
The front door creaked, boots sounded on the linoleum, but neither woman moved.
"Lester's fast as lightening," Red murmured into the glossy black river of Tsugi's hair. The other woman didn't respond. She had frozen. After a few seconds, sensing something amiss, Red pulled back to look at her stricken face.
"What?"
Tsugi didn't answer.
"So this is where you been sneakin' off to."
The voice came from behind her. Husky. Soft. Menacing. Male.
Not Lester's voice.
Red's heart was in her mouth as she slowly turned to regard the tall man who stood in her kitchen with his hands in his pockets. Lean and muscled like a wolf. Dark blond hair shaved into an untidy mop that tumbled into a pair of the most intense blue eyes she had ever seen. Tsugi quietly bowed her head in submission, and Red clumsily got to her feet. She was shaking. She couldn't look away from those eyes. God, they were bluer than the Caribbean.
"P-pleasure to meet you, sir. I'm Red."
He turned his gaze on her, looking her over. Finally, he held out a hand, and Red took it.
"Darwin Tremor. Sit down, Red. You and me need to have a discussion. Tsugi, get on back up to the house. Now."
"Yes sir. I'll see you later, Red."
And then to Red's horror, Tsugi rose to her feet and left. Left her alone with the sinister country boy who held her hand in a vice-like grip. Left her alone with a killer, an assassin, a blue-eyed devil of questionable moral bearing. Red swallowed hard and looked up into his eyes, trying to think of something to say. He narrowed them, and the sense of impending doom increased.
"Nice shirt. Looks familiar."
"I'm only borrowing it. S-sir. Mr. Tremor."
"You've been in my house."
There was no point in lying now. Red slowly nodded, and he released her hand, letting her sink back onto the sofa. He looked down at her appraisingly.
"I cut myself on my second day here. Rather badly. With an axe. And Tsugi helped me."
"Show me."
With trembling hands, Red rolled up the cuff of her jeans (oh shit, his jeans) and showed him the long jagged scar. Her green eyes were pleading as she looked up at him again.
"It's healing. Tsugi did a great job." She wasn't sure how much trouble she would get into if she mentioned Lester. Darwin looked at the healing wound, taking it all in. Finally, he sat down in an old wooden rocking chair right across from her and languidly rested one boot on the armrest of the couch on which she sat. A reclining lion.
"They've been helpin' you. Both Lester and Tsugi. And you haven't done a goddamn thing to repay us. From now on, that changes. You work for me. Got a problem with that?"
Red shook her head, at a loss for words. Darwin studied her.
"Why did you move here? Of all places in the world, you had to move next to a family of assassins. There's a lot of places up for rent in town, why here?" He lightly rubbed his fingers together, his voice calm on the surface. But underneath his tone there lingered that threatening edge. "There somethin' you ain't tellin' us?
"No sir! I didn't even realize I'd moved next to a family of...a family like yours. I just bought this place because it was cheap. Cheaper than anyplace else." Red dropped her eyes finally, unable to bear the keenness of that gaze. "I didn't want to live in town. I couldn't. I can't. Sir I'm not going to be trouble for you and your family. I promise. And I'll do anything you need, although I think I've kind of shown that I'm not good at very many things."
"Yeah I figured, since you basically got your ass kicked by a tree." Darwin softly chuckled, smirking. His smile quickly faded a moment later and he looked her over again, staring down at her hands. He moved closer and turned his hands over to show Red the calluses on his palms. Red couldn't believe it, but her stomach actually gave a slight tingle as she caught the scent of his cologne. Old Spice and a hint of sweat. It was intoxicating. She bit her tongue hard to distract herself, concentrating on his words as he continued to speak. "These are the hands of a workin' man. You're gonna be workin' for me now and you'll learn how to stitch wounds, chop wood properly without nearly killin' yourself, maybe do a little cleanin' and other things. You will be doin' every dirty, menial job in the whole damn house an' on the grounds that no one else wants to do."
Red nodded eagerly, seeing a sudden ribbon of hope appearing through the black clouds of her situation.
"Anything! I will do anything at all you need, if you'll help me in return. You can work me as hard as you want. I'll cook, I'll clean, I'll dig ditches and carry wood as soon as I'm healed. Will you...will you let me stay without hurting me? I have no reason to tell the police about you or to disrespect your authority. Can we find a way to maybe coexist?"
She held her breath. There was a grinding sound, and suddenly lights flickered in the kitchen, went out again, flickered on. Then stayed on.
"Hell yeah! HAHAHAHAHAHAHA!" they both heard Lester exclaim from somewhere outside. Darwin held Red's eyes with his own, pinning her down more effectively than if he'd bound her with a chain.
"I don't have a reason to hurt you, not unless you do harm to my family, then that's all the reason I would need." His fingers curled to the palms of his hands as he cracked his knuckles, leaning back in the rocking chair. "We'll get along fine. Just as long as you listen to what I say and what my brothers tell you to do."
Red swallowed hard, remembering what Tsugi had said. "It's worth everything I had to go through to stay here." Her heartbeat suddenly seemed very loud in her ears, and she wondered what she was getting herself into.
"I'll do everything you say, Darwin. But you'll help me in return? I need food, medicine, and the ability to stay hidden."
"The ability to stay hidden." A small smile curved his full, sensual lips and he raised his hands, placing them down on his lap. "We got food, we got medicine and we know how to hide. You picked the right place to get a bum leg, Red." He softly chuckled, and looked around the cabin, pressing his foot on the floor to slowly rock the chair. "You'll be fine here."
"Tsugi said you might kill me."
Darwin continued to look around, scratching his lean chest, moving his hand up under his soiled shirt and revealing a flash of flat, sculpted stomach. Red blinked, bewildered by the attraction she felt. He was a monster! A killer! And…dear God, what was that tattoo on his left shoulder? Was that a naked woman? It was! Hands behind her back, legs indelicately spread across his armpit. It was quite possibly the worst body art Red had ever seen. Darwin followed her gaze and flashed a grin. "'Might kill you', not 'will'. I got myself a temper, I won't lie. But as long as you do what I ask, there won't be a reason you'll go and trigger it." He patted his shirt down and touched the bandage on his neck, looking back to Red as she sat across from him in a torment of confused fascination. "Anythin' else?"
Red looked down to where Bandit's sleek black tail was still visible trailing out from under the sofa.
"Do you keep your dog inside? I have a cat. I don't want him to get hurt."
Darwin slightly tilted his head and he stared at her. Then down to Bandit's tail, then back to meet her eyes once more.
"What dog? I don't got no pets. Just them strays Jeeves feeds. But no dogs."
Red's eyebrows rose in surprise.
"But what about the thing that bit Tsugi? She has a wound on her neck, a bad one. A bite mark from a dog. She told me herself."
Darwin chuckled and slapped his knee, then rose to his feet and looked down at her. It was not a pleasant laugh.
"That ain't no dog that bit her, it was my brother. You'll be meetin' him as soon as he gets better, should only be a few more days. Try not to turn your head away from him or make any fast movements, it tempts him. Boy's an animal."
"Oh my God…" Red moaned, putting a hand to her mouth. The door banged open, and Lester came in. If he was shocked by the presence of Darwin and the absence of Tsugi, he did not show it. Stoically, he clicked on the oven to heat the meat loaf and turned to the sink to wash his hands.
"Hey there Darwin."
"Lester. I will deal with you later."
"Sure thing. I see ya met Red."
Darwin nodded, looking down at Red but speaking to his brother.
"Yeah, I did. Red is gonna be doin' some work for us when she gets well enough." He paused, tilting his head. "And she just realized that we have a brother instead of a dog. She saw the bite mark on Tsugi."
Lester turned around, grimly tightening his jaw, and clicked the lights on and off, testing them, then came into the living room and flicked the switch on an ugly 1950's orange lamp on the end table. Nothing happened. He rooted in his tool box for a fresh bulb, swapped them out, flicked the switch, and the room was bathed in a warm cheerful light. He sighed and nodded.
"Best not ta piss off the baby brother, girl. Mind yer goddamn manners an' just stay outta his way. An' mine. An' Darwin's unless he tells ya what ta do. Tomorrow mornin' Imma need ya ta start stitchin' up some torn clothes, a couple blankets. Got an old sewin' machine I'll haul down. You just stay in yer house an' keep yer eyes on yer work."
Red bit her lip. The previous warmth of finding a glimmer of hope and safety was dying. A grown man, a human being, had BITTEN another? What the hell?
"Is he…safe?"
Darwin rubbed the back of his neck.
"Don't act scared around him because he likes that kinda thing. Don't go near him with an open wound either. He ain't completely 100% upstairs and he can take out a room of men by himself. Sure, I guess he's safe."
Red stared at him, then at Lester, feeling tears fill her eyes. Horror filled her chest.
"You…you're all crazy, aren't you?" She whispered. Darwin smiled a wolf's grin and opened the door.
"Pretty much."