Page 28 of Carnage
“Uh, no,” Colson says. “He’s talking to Shadow.”
Carnage looks surprised. “How did shopping go?”
Colson’s face lights up. “It was fun. Right, Stealth?”
Stealth just grunts in response, but I notice his lips curl up slightly.
“Shadow’s the boss,” Carnage explains. “You’ll meet him at some point.”
“He won’t mind that I’m here?”
“Uh…” Carnage glances around. “Probably not.”
“Probablynot?”
Wraith chuckles. “He’ll be fine with it. We’re all slowly finding love and adding to our family. A couple of years ago it would’ve been unheard of, but it’s fine now.”
“I mean, my man is a senator’s son,” Nimble says. “If he can hang out here, so can you.”
“Where is Joss?” Ghost asks. “Haven’t seen him in a while.”
“Stupid job,” Nimble grumbles. “He’s been traveling to do his audits. He’ll have a month off in a couple of weeks. Well, not off, but no travel. I’ll bring him around.”
I realize quickly that all the guys here are talking about the men in their lives. Everyone is queer? That’s so cool.
“I can take you upstairs and get you settled in a room. Are there things you need from your place?” Carnage guides me from the room while I wave over my shoulder at them.
I shrug. “I don’t know what happened to it. I haven’t paid rent since Leon took me back to his place, so I have no idea what they did with my stuff.”
“Give me the address. I’ll check it out.”
I nod. “Nothing important at Leon’s. Just clothes and some books.”
“We have books if you like to read.”
“I do.” I follow him up the grand staircase, admiring the architecture. “This is a nice home.”
“It is. We’re lucky we found it. It’s private enough, but still close to all the action.”
“I’ve never been to Crestvale.”
“It’s a nice city. Clean, a little bougie. Nothing like Mistone.”
“That’s not a bad thing.”
“No.” At the top of the stairs, he stops in front of a closed door. “This room is free and you’re just close to me. I’m on the other side of the bathroom there.” He opens the door for me and I step inside.
It’s a nice room. Tidy, with a queen bed, a dresser, and two nightstands. There’s some art on the walls, but it sort of blends in. It’s a good room, but I feel strange here, like I don’t belong.
“Is something wrong?” Carnage asks.
“No, of course not. It’s great.”
“But?”
I shrug, wrapping my arms around myself. “I appreciate it. I do.”
“You’re safe here, Rue. You can relax and stretch out. No one will bother you.”
