Mine

Less - 16

We spent the rest of the night in silence. Baldie cleaned up the kitchen as I ate another bowl before he brought out a pillow a blanket to the couch for me, then another set for himself. He made a spot for himself on the floor next to me as I watched him.

“What are you doing?” I asked as he untied his dress shoes.

“I’m staying. I have to watch you to make sure you don’t die in your sleep.”

“I think I’m going to be fine,” I argue, but he shakes his head.

“Bosses orders.”

I huff and lay down, wishing I could just take a long drawn-out bath. He lies down in his tight suit. That can’t be comfortable, but he crosses his arms and closes his eyes.

His past holds secrets that I need to know. Even if they are a side quest in my plan to get Tate Loren under my belt, I feel kind of bad for Baldie and the other girls that are here.

He says they chose their life, but from what I’ve gathered about The Order so far, no one here chooses anything about their lives unless they are part of the faceless personas running this thing.

“I don’t think The Order is all you’ve thought it to be,” I whisper into the darkness.

“Hmm?”

“I just mean that there’s people above you. Above your friend, Tate, and even above Hiram. Where does the hierarchy end? What’s the ceiling?” I ask, trying not to sound too much like I’m digging for information.

His silence makes me think that maybe he’s fallen asleep in my ramblings, but just as I’m about to turn over, he answers; his voice sleepy and rough.

“It’s a system. There’s always someone above someone else. It works. It’s worked for centuries. The Bonemen are not to be underestimated, Less.”

The first time he’s used my name and provided information I can use. Whatever a Boneman is, I need to find out.

“Oh please, what could I do to upset a bone guy?”

“Boneman. And exactly what you did tonight, mouthing off to your higher-ups. The system must be respected, thus it flows, forbidding collapse”

I eye him as I cut out my next words maybe a bit too harshly.

“Seems like a pretty fragile system if one s*x ring worker who knows nothing could unhinge it from its surly depths.”