Page 20 of Knox's Mission

Even he knew better than to make promises he couldn’t guarantee he’d be able to keep. His word meant everything to him. And he wouldn’t candy-coat the situation they faced.

“But that doesn’t mean the jungle doesn’t have other ideas,” he continued. “It’s a living, breathing entity, as I’m sure you’ve noticed.”

She nodded.

“And that means I can’t predict what will happen or what we might encounter, other than a few knowns that you probably don’t need to hear at this point,” he said. “Some things are best left experienced when they come rather than the mental prison that comes with anticipation.”

“Makes sense,” she said after issuing a heavy sigh. “I have a feeling this day is about to get a lot worse.”

He wouldn’t argue there. “That all being said, I think there are dangers with us that could be just as dangerous as any critters we’ll face.”

“Donnie,” she said barely in a whisper.

“I don’t like him,” he declared. “He triggers my Spidey senses.”

“I didn’t like him before,” she admitted. “And I certainly don’t trust him now. My question is whether Lorna can be trusted.”

“She lied to you, right?”

“Yes,” she said with an arched brow.

“When someone tells you who they are, believe them,” he said. The belief had served him well over the years. It fell into the category offool me once, shame on you but fool me twice, shame on me.

“Point taken,” Amy said. “I guess part of me wanted to give her the benefit of the doubt. I just didn’t want to believe that I could have let someone in my life who could do something like this to me or put me in this position.”

“Let me ask you something.”

“Okay,” she said.

“How long have you known her?”

“Since freshman year of college,” she supplied.

“And how long has she been dating this sorry excuse for a human?” He didn’t bother to sugarcoat his opinion of Donnie. Anyone who pulled what he did had no right to expect respect.

“Three years,” Amy said.

“She put you in jeopardy to please a guy she’s known years less than you?” Considering the menand women he’d served with became family, and loyalty was everything, he couldn’t fathom it.

“She loves him,” Amy said. “Doesn’t love make you blind?”

“Not the good kind.” Not that Knox had experienced it yet but he believed a pure love existed, just not for someone like him. Someone broken. Someone who couldn’t trust. Someone who couldn’t let others in. “But that’s not even the point. If Donnie loved truly loved her, he would never have asked her to put her friend in danger.”

The jolt happened so fast, he almost didn’t see it. A momentary widening of her near-perfect shade of blue eyes before she recovered. This is what it looks like when the truth dawns on you.

“You’re so right,” was all she said before Lorna grunted.

Donnie must have said something she didn’t approve of because she folded her arms across her chest like she was doing her best to block him out.

Donnie raised his voice and made gestures with his hands like he was ‘giving up’.

What the hell was going on over there?

6

“Hey,” Amy said as she cut across the small space. “You need to keep your voice down or do I have to remind you there are dangerous animals who would eat us and some tribes who would serve us to the river as sacrifices?” She had no idea if what she’d just said was true but she was feeling dramatic. Most of the tribes, she’d read, were very welcoming to strangers but there were always outliers. And she was feeling protective of Lorna. Her friend—former friend?—might be a turncoat, but Amy would always defend someone being bullied. Period. It was just how she was made.

Donnie whirled around like he was about to give her hell in return, but then froze when his gaze fixed on something over her shoulder. Or should she saysomeone? Because a quick glance said Knox had accomplished more with one glare than she could with a whole string of threats.

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