Chapter 9 (Pt 1)
He looked familiar somehow �. Oh yeah, the old man from the forest � Xandrie's friend. What the hell did he want with him?
Christian was really not in the mood for talking. The things Xandrie had told him had literally turned everything upside down in his soul. He was torn between feeling sorry for her and being angry at her for all the hurt she put him through.
Yes, she was in an impossible situation back then, but, damn it, he had a right to know what was going on! To not be shut out and turned away without any explanation.
It really frustrated him to think that things could have been so different if she had only told him the truth that evening. If only�
And now, after having avoided him and treated him like an unwelcome intrusion ever since they met, she finally decided to open up to him, pulling him in only to have him pushed away again. Damn it!
He wanted so much to stop her from running away again, to grab her by the shoulders, to spin her around to face him. He wanted to force her to look him in the eyes and tell him once and for all how she truly felt about him. He was so tired of feeling like a yo-yo toy � being thrown away at one moment and pulled back by a string the next�.
But, unfortunately, he was unable to do any of those things. He was bound to this bed and could only grind his teeth at the forced helplessness of his condition.
The last thing he needed at that moment was some old guy trying to make small talk with him.
�Interesting observation,� he quipped, not even trying to keep the sarcasm out of his voice. �Anybody ever tell you you have a gift for the obvious?�
The older man gave him a knowing smile. �Ah, oui. Xandrie varned me about you,� he said calmly, as he approached the bed and sat down on a small but sturdy three-legged stool that stood by its side. �She said you have a � how you say � a mouth on you.�
Christian merely snorted. �Great. I�ll take it as a compliment.�
Slowly, so as not to disturb the wound, he pulled himself up into a sitting position and looked sideways at his unwelcome companion, studying him more closely. He seemed older than what Christian had originally thought. He looked to be at least in his late 60s, although his light-brown hair managed to keep most of its color, surrendering only a few random patches to the inevitable gray. The pale blue eyes regarded him calmly and even good-naturedly � the look of a genial and unconcerned old man, but Christian could feel a kind of force behind them that made him do a double take. He knew somehow that that man, at least at some point in his life, would not let anybody mess with him, and he also guessed that those who have tried paid dearly for their transgressions. Who was he?
As if reading his thoughts, the man stretched out his hand without letting his gaze leave Christian�s face even for a second. �I am Robert, Robert DuBois,� he supplied in the same affable manner, and Christian hesitantly shook the outstretched hand.
�Christian Troy.�
�Yes, I know,� Robert smiled. �I have heard a lot about you.�
�Funny, I can�t say I�ve heard anything about you!� Christian bit back, glaring at his interlocutor. The man was really starting to annoy him. If he smiles one more time, I swear I'll�
�Vell, you shouldn�t be angry viz Xandrie for zat,� he countered. �She vas not yet ready to share zat part of her life viz you. Zat is understandable, no?�
Christian shrugged. �I thought we could trust each other � with anything. I trusted her � at one point, at least.�
�You don�t anymore?�
Christian was silent for a long time before responding. So many things happened since then.
�I don�t know,� he admitted finally, a deep frown creasing his forehead. �There are still so many things ��
�Zat you are not sure about?� Robert finished the phrase for him, and the latter nodded absently. �Vell,� the old man pursed his lips slightly, trying to gauge the other�s emotional state, �I sink it is understandable � under ze circumstances. You might need a bit more time to �eh � sort things out.�
�Time,� Christian snorted sarcastically. �How much time do you think we have with a band of professional killers on our tail?�
�Good point,� Robert acknowledged with a barely noticeable grin. He was beginning to like this fellow. He would have made a great match for Xandrie. Too bad under the circumstances that was practically impossible.
�Why are they, by the way?�
�Vhy are zey vhat?�
�Why are they after us, after her?� That question�s been on his mind for a while now, and this was as good a time as any to ask.
�Oh,� Robert made a vague gesture with his hand, letting it drop softly back onto his lap. �From vhat I understand, our little girl decided to � eh� how you say � back out of a contract.�