Free Break Free The Night (Book 2): Loss of Light by E.M. Fitch Page B

apartments and pavement and crowds of people. Her old home anyway.
     
                  Or maybe it was just Jack, his constant scent of pine and rain and that undertone of honey. Maybe the thought of being in the place that gave him that comforting balm that so soothed her nerves, even now, even after Susan, maybe that was what she really craved.
     
                  Maybe that was her new home. A wandering home following a fragrance that wrapped around the man she loved but had trouble looking at.
     
                  Her father poked her a bit when she hesitated. "Keep going, honey." She started and moved forward, checking from the corner of her eye. Yes, Danny was still staring at her. She locked eyes with him for a moment, but then dropped her gaze. He was strangely intimidating. Not like Quinton. More like he wanted to intimidate, and knew his staring would do it. As her eyes lowered, she couldn't help but notice the boxy outline of a handgun on his hip.
     
                  The room they were directed into was large. Kaylee was immediately surprised they were offered it. There was a line of beds, five on each side of the long room. Bill was already being carefully placed on the one farthest from the door. They all looked freshly made, all with uniform dark wool blankets tucked with hospital corners into the thin mattresses. There was even a pillow, encased by a white pillowcase, on each of the beds. If it weren't for the fact that there were ten, Kaylee would have thought Marsden could see the future and knew they were coming. It seemed impossible that this was just set up and waiting the way it was.
     
                  "There's a bathroom through that door," Danny pointed from the doorway. "Only one set of showers though, and they're downstairs, sorry. I'll tell Cynthia to bring up some food." Jack had already walked through the door and towards the bathroom, peeking his head in to appraise. Kaylee had one foot in the air, meaning to follow him, when the door clanged shut behind her.
     
                  "Hey!" Jack yelled, racing back towards Danny and the closed door. The bolt that snapped shut caused even Anna to jerk her head up.
     
                  "Sorry, boy." It was Marsden's voice that rang through the door, Kaylee thought a little smugly. She hadn't even known he was out there. He must have followed them up. "No one comes through my door without my okay. And you don't have my okay just yet."
     
                  "We were offered electricity, safety," Kaylee returned quietly, watching Jack's jaw clamp in irritation, his jaw muscles twitching. It was better if someone else spoke, she thought. Jack looked like he wanted to exploded and that certainly wouldn't help.
     
                  "So you were and you have it," Marsden answered, a slight wheeze to his voice. "Electricity, running water, a bathroom. I'll even feed 'ya. But no one walks in off these streets, guns in their pockets, and has the run of my place without my say so."
     
                  "We have a friend-" Emma started but she was cut off.
     
                  "Danny mentioned that," Marsden interrupted. "I'll send him back out for him." Kaylee could hear Danny sniff in irritation at that.
     
                  "But..." Kaylee trailed off because she could hear two sets of footsteps moving away. The conversation was over.
     
                  "Get back here!" Jack shouted, pounding the door with both fists.
     
                  "Don't," Kaylee whispered. She came behind him and placed both hands on his back, surprised when she felt him shudder under her palms. He calmed immediately, though he kept his face to the closed metal door. It clanked softly when he leant his forehead against it.
     
                  "Why stop him?" Emma asked, her voice harsh and angry. "We shouldn't be