Aiden smiles at Ronan, but there’s no humour whatsoever in it. “Isn’t that your dominant hand, Astor? It would be a shame if it somehow didn’t work tomorrow.”
Woah. Aiden can be really scary if he chooses to.
“Sick fucker,” Ronan whines, dropping my hand.
I catch Cole’s lips moving in my peripheral vision. ‘Pussy,’ he mouths at Ronan.
“Fais chier, connard.” The latter flips him the finger.
Cole just smiles. He’s like a cat toying with a mouse.
A hunter with a prey.
He sets the trap and sits back to watch his prey being caught.
I’m beginning to learn Cole only shows the tip of the iceberg to the world. There’s a whole lot of secrecy and darkness underneath the surface.
I can only imagine what it feels like to be his enemy.
Shivers.
After a while of joking and jesting — and Aiden sulking on the side — they stand to leave, promising to visit when I get discharged tomorrow.
“You don’t have to come.” Aiden shoves every one out of the door. He pauses at Xander. “You and I need to talk.”
Xander’s ocean eyes snap back to Kim who’s still standing beside me.
She pales, her hands digging into her skirt before she pulls at the sleeves of her pullover. She’s been doing that a lot since she came in.
Actually, she’s been having this wild gaze for a few days now.
Kim smiles, but she sucks at faking them. The grimace falls way too soon as she leans in to kiss me.
“Are you okay?” I clutch her hand.
“When you’re out,” she gulps. “I’ll tell you everything.”
“Okay.”
She hugs me again, sniffing in my neck. “I’m lucky to have you in my life, Ellie.”
“So am I, Kim.”
Xander doesn’t leave. He stands by the side of the door, slightly blocking it. He doesn’t attempt to give way and Kim has to stop.
“Can you move?” she snaps without looking at him.
“No.” He stares at the top of her green hair, crossing his arms over his chest.
“Just move out of the way, Xan—”
“Don’t say my fucking name.” He cuts her off.
Kim’s face reddens as she slams her shoulder into his shoulder and brushes past him.
He nods at Aiden and then follows her.
Aiden continues to watch down the hall with that calculative look before he shuts the door and joins me.