Page 114 of Consume Me

“Thank you for––”

“You don’t have to thank me for that.”

He offers a nod, his jaw clenching. “I worry about Bailey.”

“Have a soft spot for her?” Kaden baits him.

Hunter’s features tighten to the point his body might snap. You can deny feelings, but it’s like bottling them up in a jar—sooner or later, the pressure will make them explode.

“She’s nonstop on her laptop and blaming herself.”

When Dane walks inside, we cast glances at each other.

“Can’t sleep either? Fuck, I just need their location like yesterday.”

“Get in line. It’s not like we’re not eager to kill them as well,” Hunter tells him.

“I told Cassandra to let me kill them, but no, we had to take the high road and now…”

“We won’t make the same mistake twice,” I reassure Dane.

I move to leave when Kaden says, “Three times, if you count when I had the chance to kill Felix. And no solo missions either,” he warns, looking at me.

Needing to check on Bailey to see how she’s holding up, I knock on her door and let myself in. Bailey is at her desk, scanning the two screens—one displaying a live map, the other running a face detection program. Her hair is pulled into a messy bun on top of her head.

“Bailey,” I say her name in a gentle tone, not to scare her when she whips her face to me. When she sees it’s me, she sighs a breath of relief.

“I’m fine,” she says, sounding defensive.

“You don’t have to lie to me. We don’t do that,” I say, reminding her of the pact we made when we were younger.

“It’s just easier to say that than give into how I truly feel. Whoever is helping them is better than I am.”

I squat in front of her and take her hands in mine.

“I doubt that. Remember, we’re a team. And we survived. That’s what matters.”

“You could have died today because of me.”

“I’m harder to kill than that. We need you level-headed, so don’t let whoever’s behind this get in your head. I am pretty sure that’s the plan—to destabilize you. Doubts never helped anyone.”

She drops into my arms, and I hold her tightly. I wait for her to end the hug, and when she does, her aquamarine eyes flash with determination.

“I’ll find them.”

“I’m sure you will.”

A yawn parts her lips, and I scoop her up and place her on the bed.

“No, I need to keep watching those.”

“You sleep, and I promise I will watch them for you. Perks of not being able to sleep. I need to do something before I lose my damn mind.”

She turns to the side and falls asleep instantly.

While I keep monitoring the screens, it’s like looking from the outside with no way inside. We’re fighting with ghosts. Whoever is helping them is professional. They think they’re in control—for now. But I will strip them of that and shove the truth down their throats: that it was nothing more than a sham.

I will get the names of everyone who helps them. No one can stay in the dark for too long. If greed pushes them to helpFelix and Caleb, I will offer them double the amount—that or death. Loyalty is something you build, not buy.

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