Into the Dark by Karen Rose

Author:Karen Rose
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Penguin Publishing Group
Published: 2019-11-25T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter Fifteen

Cincinnati, Ohio

Sunday, March 17, 11:30 p.m.

“Okay, lights out,” Dani told Michael when The Avengers’ final credits rolled. “You have to get back on a schedule. You won’t be out of school forever.”

Michael stood up from where he’d been lounging on the floor. “Is Coach back?”

Dani shook her head. “Not yet.” She still hoped Diesel would come back, but that hope was starting to falter.

You could call him and ask him.

I could. I could also remove my own appendix. It would be equally painful. The look on Diesel’s face as he’d left still haunted her.

Temporary.

She forced a smile for Michael. “But don’t worry. We’ll be safe. One of these guys will stay until Coach gets back.”

“And I’m staying over for a few days,” Greg signed, offering Michael his fist, which Michael bumped. “I’ll take the couch in the basement. I have to go to school tomorrow, but I’ll get your homework and help you get caught up.”

“Thanks.” Michael gave the waiting group a melancholy wave, then signed, “Thank you to you all, too. Nice meeting you.”

Dani voiced his words for the others, then followed Michael and Hawkeye upstairs. “Let me check your stitches,” she signed without voicing.

Michael inclined his head obligingly. The sutures were dry, the wound healing nicely. She tapped his shoulder, indicating he should look up.

“You’re looking good,” she told him, still not voicing because his injuries were private. “How is the other thing?”

Michael looked away before dragging his gaze back, his face aflame. “Better. No more blood.”

“Good. Don’t forget to take the laxative pills. They’ll help.”

Michael’s quick eye-roll spoke volumes. “Okay. Fine.”

She gave him a smile. “Don’t stay up reading too long, okay?”

He smiled back, shyly. “I won’t. Thank you,” he added in a burst of sign.

She tilted her head. “For what?”

He gestured around him. “All this. Getting your friends to watch over us. Not hating me because of what I said to Joshua.”

She sighed. “Well, you told him the truth. I am temporary emergency housing. But you guys are in a unique position. I’m hoping you can stay the max time, which is thirty days.” And then? We’ll see. But she wasn’t promising anything until she had hard facts. There was no way she’d further disappoint these kids.

His smile was wobbly. “Better than nothing. Good night.”

Dani watched him go, then descended the stairs with a sigh, only to be met by the sudden barking of seven dogs at a knock on the front door. The dogs were quickly hushed by their owners, and Marcus gently pushed her aside when she started for the door.

She glared at him. “I would have checked who it was first.”

“He promised Diesel he’d keep you safe,” Scarlett murmured as she made her way back into the living room. She’d raced for the half bath as soon as the movie had finished, bemoaning her constant need to pee. “Marcus won’t break a promise to anyone, especially to Diesel.”

Marcus, Stone, and Diesel were a tightly knit group, Dani thought, grateful that Diesel had a strong support system.

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