Twisted Metal Heart - Eve Langlais Page 0,7
it over his head, peered under, and groaned. “That is just wrong. Please tell me you didn’t do this.”
She had, but given his level of discomfort, she didn’t mention that. “We have machines doing most of the work.”
“Then get a machine to take it out.”
“It will be quicker if I do it. If you’ll let me get under that sheet, I’ll remove it for you.”
His eyes peered over the hem of the sheet. “You are not touching my junk.”
The red flushing his cheeks took her by surprise. Was he embarrassed because she’d seen his penis? Most men offered to show theirs to her without even asking.
“I’ve been washing your junk since you arrived.” Not true, but she noticed the goading had brought a spark to his expression. A defiance to his tone.
“I will take care of myself,” he stated. “Starting with the tubes.”
“Do you know how to remove the—”
He interrupted. “I can do this.”
“Very well. You handle it while I fetch you something to eat.” She closed the door behind her, waited, heard his bellow and shook her head. “Idiot.”
When she returned with a tray, she found him sitting on the side of the bed shirtless, wearing only loose shorts. The smooth flesh that stopped only a few inches past the shoulder faced her.
His head hung, the picture of dejection. Did he so easily give up?
“I’ve brought you some broth.” Easy food to digest for someone just coming out a coma.
“I need to get out of here. Do you have a car or bike, something I can borrow?”
“You can’t leave.”
“Because I’m a cripple.”
“No, because you just woke up.” She set the tray on a table.
“No shit. But I need to get moving. I can’t stay here. If I’ve been gone four days, then my crew will wonder where I am.”
“Give me a message and I’ll send it.”
He snorted. “Nice try. I’m not telling you where they are. For all I know, you’re an Enclave spy.”
The very idea made her laugh. “I can assure you I’m not Enclave.”
“I think you are. You have the accent of a city citizen.”
“Whatever my past, I’m not a part of it now.”
“So you claim. We all know the Enclave can’t be trusted.”
“Are you always so paranoid?”
“All the time, especially when things don’t make sense. How is it you live out here? With medical equipment?”
“Why don’t you explain what you were doing in the middle of nowhere? Because I’m beginning to wonder if you’re suicidal.” He certainly appeared to be doing his best to tempt her into killing him.
“I was looking for something,” he grumbled.
“Did you find it?”
“Do I look like a man who found something epic?”
She folded her arms. “Standing right in front of you.”
It took him a moment to grasp she was bragging. “You’re cocky.”
“My father always told me to be assertive. Which is why I still want to know what you were doing out here.”
“A rumor.”
She blinked at him. “About what?”
“A guy in the bazaar sold me information a few weeks ago. I caught up to them while they were camping outside Seimor Forest.”
“The living night trees,” she whispered. “And what was this information you paid for?”
“He told me about a few ruins I’d never heard of, but the juicy tidbit was there’s supposedly a way through the mountains to the Free lands.”
“Free lands?” She snorted. “There is no such thing.” Not exactly. From what she’d learned, it was just different styles of ruling.
“I guess it’s no surprise you’d scoff at it.”
“Meaning what, exactly?”
“That the Enclave brainwashing goes deep.”
The taunt stung, especially because it used to be true. “I know what freedom is. It’s the Emerald citizens who don’t enjoy any. But there’s reasons for it.”
He regarded her pensively. “Are you actually going to defend the draconian Enclave rules?”
“Not all those rules are bad.”
“I can’t believe you just said that.” He snorted.
“Listen, I am well aware of the Enclave’s faults, but I also recognized the harsh reality of the world we lived in. With a population living in close quarters inside domes, rules are necessary to promote peace.”
“And justify the subjugation of others.”
“When properly applied, they lead for a peaceful society.”
“Peaceful.” Disdain dripped from the word.
“Are you going to tell me that the Wasteland doesn’t have any rules of conduct?” She arched a brow. “No one in charge? No one setting out consequences for bad behavior?”
“We don’t tolerate bad behavior.”
“Because you have rules. And I will wager those rules are always evolving. They have to because the Wasteland is a tough place.” She’d