Page 47 of Gryphon

“I know what she did, Holly. I was there! And me? Me because I didn’t try to stop or question or discuss what you decided. You know the only tool I have to keep track of Miranda’s emotions now?”

Holly shook her head slowly, wiping her face but missing the powder caught in her hair and sparkling in the sun.

“I watch Meg. She’s my only indication. Miranda’s folded so far in on herself that it takes a trained dog to sniff it out. I sure can’t anymore.”

“Are you saying we should try to get Andi back? After what she did?” Holly’s anger flashed red across her features without any thought or hesitation. At least there existed no question what she felt—ever.

“I’m saying we should discuss it. Like we didn’t discuss it before you threw her off the team. You and I. Or better yet, we should ask Miranda. It’s her team, Holly, not yours. It’s her life, not yours. But that’s not what I’m talking about anyway.”

“Then what?”

Figuring he had nothing else to lose, “You’re a Team of One, Holly. Did you even think of talking it over with me before you kicked Andi out? Don’t bother answering, we both already know the answer to that one. Ever since you blew up the damn bridge that finished your team, you’ve been a Team of One. Maybe since you lost your brother in that flood and your parents threw you out. Maybe even before that when you led townies into the Outback for a week at a time to live on bush tucker simply because you could. I’m sick to death of being stuck out here on my own. I’m through. With this team, with you. I’m heading back to Denver. At least that I understand.”

Holly’s face did something he’d never seen before, it went wholly blank. In this moment, when he desperately needed to know what she was thinking, when he wished he could take back everything he’d just said, she was more blank faced than Miranda at her most desperate.

A high whine of a jet engine sounded behind him, growing louder and louder until he had to cover his ears again. He turned to see Miranda’s Citation M2 rolling up the taxiway toward them.

“No! This. Is. Not. Happening!” His shout was drowned out, then the engines cycled down as the plane pulled up nearby.

The door swung down and Jeremy leaned out.

“Come on. There’s another one.” And he waved them urgently aboard.

He turned to look at Holly.

This couldn’t be real. It really couldn’t. One lousy conversation had been spread across two days now—and never completed.

Her blue eyes remained still.

Expressionless.

Watching him.

Waiting to see what he’d do.

What he should do was walk away.

What he wanted to do was walk away.

But Holly deserved the right to respond. To answer, if she wanted to try—for once!

He couldn’t leave until she’d at least had the chance.

“Bloody fucking hell.” He rose to his feet.

Then he held out a hand to help her up from the snow.

She stared at it for a long moment, then took it. But only long enough to pull herself up.

The distance between them as they walked toward the plane seemed to grow with every step.

36

“I’m happy we found you,” Miranda said over the cockpit intercom once they were aloft.

Mike grunted.

“There are so many people.”

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