Deviants (Badlands 2)

Arlen?

I momentarily forgot all about my pain and whipped my head around. My blue eyes met with a pair of cognac ones at the foot of the bed.

I immediately sensed something was different about her, knowing the bruises spread across her once flawless bronze skin came with a story.

Biting back my questions, I chose to concentrate on the fact that she was right in front of me. I hadn’t realized how much I’d missed her presence or had even liked her until that exact moment. I felt a little more weight lift off my shoulders knowing she was alive.

“I was so worried about you,” she exhaled, rushing forward and engulfing me in her arms.

I fought the urge to shove her away. I didn’t do touchy-feely unless it was Romero, but I awkwardly patted her back so I didn’t come off as a total bitch. She smelled freshly showered. Her chocolate hair was piled on her head in a messy bun.

“How long have you been here?” I asked, gently pushing her backward.

“Grimm brought me a few hours ago. I can’t go anywhere without that damn man followin me. He stood outside the bathroom the entire time I showered and then locked me in the room,” she growled.

So they were locking her away too? Huh.

I studied her various tattoos, unsure what to say next. We hadn’t known each other long, but she was one of the only women I’d allowed myself to get close to. I guess I considered her a friend.

“You look thoroughly fucked. Y'all certainly didn’t waste time goin back to your kinky ways.” She made a hand motion around her throat.

“I think I need to see what you do.” Pushin

g the comforter away from my legs, I slowly stood and walked into the bathroom.

“Holy shit,” I muttered when I saw my reflection.

My bottom lip was slightly swollen, my hair a mess, and there was an obvious hand shaped bruise on my neck that matched the ones on my wrists.

Lifting my tank top, I saw there was another from the stairs digging into my back. I was in fact wearing a pair of plaid boxer shorts rolled up at the top. Seeing as Romero was usually commando, I sincerely hoped these were his retro just-in-case drawers and not some random man’s dick huggers.

I picked up the comb I used earlier and smiled at myself, combing out my blonde locks.

“Where is Romero?” I called out and asked.

“Not sure, he said he’d be back and not to upset you.” She snorted as if the possibility of that happening was absurd.

I had just sat the comb down when I heard another familiar voice.

“Room service!” Cobra yelled enthusiastically.

I practically levitated out of the bathroom, taking note of his blue sling and his freshly trimmed carrot head.

I beamed at him and gave a little wave.

“Girl, the fuck was that? Get over here and hug me,” he demanded good-naturedly.

I slipped past the food cart he’d wheeled in and reluctantly let him give me a one-armed hug.

“Thank fuck you jumped off that bridge. If anything happened to you, I’d be dead,” he admonished.

I didn’t think Romero would take out a man he considered his brother because of me, and I hadn’t actually jumped, but I wasn’t going to point that out.

“Cali.” A timid voice spoke from the open doorway. I looked past Cobra to see Jinx standing with her hands nervously clasped at her waist.

Clearly, this was a night of reunions. Yay me.

“Go head and do the girly thing. We’ll catch up later, but make sure you eat every bite. You got this waif thing going on right now. You’re already too skinny and your ass is shrinking. I gotta go talk to Rome.” The smile he gave me reached his silver eyes and I couldn’t help but return it. I had no anger for him; I was glad he was alive.