On Broken Wings Read Online Free PDF Page B

shopping, and we'll be set for the day. While I'm out, you might want to take a shower, try to relax a bit. After that we can talk about whatever's on your mind."
    She stared at him, not comprehending.
    "I told you yesterday, you're safe here. No one's going to do anything to you. And you're welcome to stay as long as you need to. If you were expecting to have to make some kind of payment, you can relax. We'll talk about putting you on your own two feet when you've had a while to rest and recover. I don't see that we have to rush it."
    He was doing his best to be reassuring, but from her expression, he might have been babbling in tongues.
    "I'll have to find out how much you know and what you'll need to learn before you go off by yourself. I don't want you to leave here unprepared. The world isn't a very forgiving place. So we'll spend a few hours each day on that. And I do have affairs of my own to attend to, so I won't be with you all the time. But I promise you, Chris, you will not have to face those creatures, or anything like them, helpless and alone ever again. I swear it. You might not believe it yet, but you will."
    She continued to stare at him, eyes wide and mouth working, but no sound came out. For a moment he thought she might begin to cry again. Instead she drew a deep breath, let it out slowly, and returned her attention to the coffee mug, from which she still had not drunk.
    "What's the errand?"
    Oh, nothing much. I'm just going to ramble on over to the hospital and pay your bill without letting them know where you've gone. Then I get to lie still for an hour and let them pump me full of toxic chemicals on the off chance that they'll extend my life another week or two, because all of a sudden I'm afraid to die.
    He forced a smile. "Nothing to concern yourself over."
    He went to her side, covered her hands with his own and, against some slight resistance, brought the mug to her lips. She took a sip and swallowed. Fear-filled brown eyes rose once more to meet his.
    "It's good coffee, isn't it?"
    "Yes, thanks." She attempted a smile of her own, and failed. It was painful to see.
    He nodded and looked away.
    ***
    "That all of them?"
    Hans nodded.
    Tiny rose from the couch and went to the front of the barracks, where its sole eye-level windows were located. There was nothing to see but a few cars dribbling by on Lumberjack Road. The weather was improving, the temperature rising, but there was nothing to do with it. Onteora, despite the Butchers' frequent stops there, was not a fruitful place for an extended stay. They needed richer pickings.
    He was frustrated, but he took pains not to show it. The nurse-receptionist at Onteora General had been so terrified, he'd been certain he'd struck pay dirt. But Christine had not been there, and the receptionist had sworn up and down that no female accident victim had been brought to the hospital for more than a week. It was unthinkable that any woman's resolve not to talk could resist the kind of fear he could engender. He knew where his strengths lay.
    "Don't sweat it, Hans." He did his best to suppress his irritation. "It was a good idea. No one else had any. The slut's gone, and that's that. Probably dead in a ditch somewhere. We'll find another one. When were we supposed to meet the Vikings?"
    "Three days ago, boss. You thinking of heading out?"
    Tiny nodded, looking out at the thin stream of traffic that ran past the barracks. "We've been here long enough." He turned back toward his lieutenant and grinned. "Don't I always say that after we've been here a few days?"
    Hans grinned in response. "When do you want to pull stakes?"
    Tiny shrugged. "Tomorrow morning'll be soon enough. I don't want to have to collect the guys today. Let them get pickled one more time. And you and me, let's go out and find a fresh piece of ass. Hell, maybe one each for a change."
    "You got it, boss."
     
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Chapter 5
     
    Louis could judge the state of his own expression from the way