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“Yeah. But my last name ain’t Gale. And though I like the book and the movie, any Wizard of Oz references will be met with swift and brutal retaliation.” Her eyes were clearer than they had been, but her words were still slightly slurred. She’d definitely been drugged, and was still fighting despite the medication to reverse it.
Stitches gave the woman what was probably a charming smile. I wanted to kill the smug bastard for looking at her. “Not a one. I swear.”
Dorothy gave him a half grin that didn’t look like she meant it. It was the only reason I was gonna let Stitches live. “Not many people can keep from it. I mean, if I only had a brain…” She glanced around but quickly closed her eyes and groaned. “Where’s the guy who pulled me out of that hellhole?”
That’s right, Stitches. She asked for me. Not you. And fuck you anyway. I cleared my throat. “Me,” I said. “I got you out.”
She looked up at me, her lips parting. She nodded. “Yes. It’s you.” Her breath started coming quicker and tears formed in her eyes. “Are you real?” Her voice shook, and I wasn’t really sure what to say or do to make it stop. And as glad as I’d been when she asked for me, I’d give up her recognition if she just wouldn’t cry. Yeah. I was fucked.
“Last time I checked,” I muttered. The sarcastic reply just tumbled off my lips. As a rule, I was pretty close-lipped, but that just meant my brain was able to keep up with my mouth. I thought plenty that needed to stay in my head, but occasionally it would slip. Like in situations of extreme duress. Like when faced with this woman’s tears. And it wasn’t women’s tears in general I was averse to. In my experience, women used tears as a way to manipulate. No. I knew in my heart I’d do anything… anything… to prevent this woman from crying.
To my surprise, she let out a small bark of laughter. “I guess that’s all I could ask for.” The tears still came, but she managed a genuine smile. “Thank you so fucking much.”
“You’re welcome.” I cleared my throat and looked away, but settled myself close to her so we sat side by side.
She took a deep breath once again before looking at Stitches again. “Other than several beatings, I wasn’t hurt. They kept me drugged most of the time, but they hadn’t raped me yet. Not like some of the others.” She shivered and I glanced around. Most of the other women were either passed out or asleep. One gave her a steady look before nodding her head at Dorothy. I wasn’t sure if it was a show of solidarity or just an acknowledgment of the shared trauma, but Dorothy nodded back.
“All right, then. What hurts the most?”
“My ribs.” She groaned and raised her shirt so Stitches could see her side. “Bastard kicked me just before everything went to hell. Other than that, just the drugs. Pretty sure it was heroin or some kind of opioid.”
“It was. The Narcan’s all the proof I need of that. Only question is what else did they give you? Probably nothing else since you responded so well.”
“Well, I guess that’s something.” She sat back and I hooked my arm around her. If she noticed, she didn’t mind. Just lay against me with her head on my shoulder like she fucking belonged there.
“Yeah.” Stitches grinned. “I suppose it is. You OK with that buffoon all up in your shit?”
She nodded. “Yeah. He feels safe.”
“All right, then. It won’t be too long until the Narcan wears off. Don’t fight it. I’m watching over you, and Morgue there won’t let anything happen to you.”
Her gaze snapped to mine, and I decided Stitches would indeed have to die. “Morgue?”
I opened my mouth to respond, but Stitches beat me to it. “Yep. You heard right, little girl. His name’s Morgue.”
“Why’s that?”
I shot Stitches a look that let the bastard know he was dead meat. “Just is.”
Stitches snorted. “Because your man there has sent more people to the morgue than all of us combined.”
To my surprise, Dorothy gave me a slow nod. “Good. You won’t let those bastards take me back, then.” She said it like it was a foregone conclusion, but I could see the question and vulnerability in her eyes.
“No, honey. I won’t let them near you.”
“Good, ‘cause my head’s startin’ ’ta spin ’gain.”
“I’ve got you. Just hang on to me. I’ll keep you safe.”
Instead of responding, Dorothy closed her eyes and gave in to the drug invading her system. I looked up at Stitches. “When this is over and they’re all safe, I’m gonna kill you.”
Stitches shrugged. “Get in line. Pretty sure there are a few in front of you. Besides, hearing you’re a crazy serial killer wannabe seemed to be exactly what she needed.”
“I’m not a serial killer. Everyone I killed needed killin’.”
“OK. I’ll give you that. Still helped so I ain’t sorry. And I ain’t takin’ it back.” He turned his attention to another one of the women. I turned mine back to Dorothy.
I glanced down to see her hand clutching my thigh even in her drugged state. She wasn’t completely out of it, I didn’t think, but she was in and out if the way her eyes opened and shut occasionally was any indication.
