Page 41 of Deep Within Me
Carreon concentrated on Maria. As quickly as his hope had risen, it now fell. She was breathing, but her eyes were still vacant, her limbs slack. The same as Oscar’s and Anthony’s had been when Liz’s father claimed he couldn’t heal the men.
“The damage to their brains was too extensive because of their wounds,”he’d said.“There’s nothing I or anyone else can do for them.”
Because he’d held back. He’d lied.
“Keep trying,” Carreon ordered Trinidad.
Annoyance darkened her expression.
“Now,” he insisted.
“She’s alive,” Trinidad argued. “Breathing on her own. Exactly what you wanted.”
“Bullshit. I want her back to the way she was when she came in here.”
“Why?” She sat back on her heels, palms on her knees, thighs spread widely, cunt exposed. “I found her annoying.”
He smiled at her cockiness then sobered just as quickly. “Restore her to the way she should be.”
“And if I can’t?”
“I don’t accept failure.”
“You should have thought of that when you told Ernez to strangle her.”
Before Carreon could comment, or grab and squeeze Trinidad’s throat to prove he’d lost all patience with her fucking banter, Ernez returned. The club was now blessedly silent, which accentuated the way Maria wheezed. As though she were drowning in air.
“Go on,” Carreon ordered Trinidad.
On an exasperated sigh, she lay on Maria again and ministered to her, breathing more air into her mouth, touching each part of the woman’s limp body.
For a moment, there was a spark of awareness in Maria’s expression. Awhat’s happening?look. It extinguished quickly, leaving that same vacant stare.
Minutes later, Carreon finally snapped, “Enough.”
Without objection, Trinidad rolled to the side and rummaged through Maria’s purse, pulling out a pack of Camels. The unfiltered kind that gave the most kick. With her cigarette lit, she pulled deeply on it as one would after great sex. Ignoring the previous warning that she wasn’t supposed to smoke in here.
Trinidad’s insolence was the least of Carreon’s concerns. He’d deal with it later when he could focus solely on her, teaching obedience, submission to his will. Lessons he’d enjoy and she’d endure.
“Finish her off,” Carreon ordered Ernez, gesturing to Maria.
“He should leave her here,” Trinidad said.
Carreon looked over. “Why?”
Did she want to practice on the woman? Had Trinidad considered, as he had, that she might strengthen her gift by using it?
“Who healed for you before you came here last night?” Trinidad asked.
“What business is that of yours?” Carreon answered.
She filled her lungs with more smoke, releasing it with her words. “My guess is you’ve lost that person. To Neekoma? I heard rumors earlier about a battle with his men over a woman called Liz.”
Carreon said nothing.
Trinidad picked a piece of tobacco from her tongue. “I’ve heard she’s not only a healer but painfully honorable.” She smiled as though she found the thought decidedly naive. “You want her back.”
He didn’t answer.