Page 165 of Traitor

"Snap out of it, Bones! What the fuck is wrong with you?!"

"You feel nothing." The words slip out, broken, raw.

Her eyes go wide, then narrow. And then she screams in my face. "That's why you're having afucking panic attack?!"

Her hands drop to my shoulders, gripping tight. She shakes me. Hard. "It's not what you think, you stupid asshole! Get back to reality or I'll have to slap you! And for the first time in years, I really don't want to do that!"

Wait. What? Shedoesn'twant to slap me?

"What?" My voice is hoarse.

"I meant I don't feel theangerwhen I look at you anymore, you fool! Not nothing, no emotions! And I wasn't even talking to you when I said that — I was talking to myself! So you can stop with the dramatics!"

Her arms cross over her chest, her eyes watching me like she's waiting for my brain to fucking reboot.

I swallow hard, press my palms into my eyes, try to force my heart to slow the fuck down. It feels like I was on the edge of a cliff, the wind pushing me toward the drop, and she just yanked me back. Like the guillotine was falling toward my neck and stopped at the last second.

"So... youdofeel something?" My voice is still rough, but stronger now.

Her arms tighten around herself. Her chin lifts. "We need to talk."

Any other time, those words would make me want to fucking run. But right now? They feel like oxygen. Like salvation.

I straighten, exhale slowly, then meet her eyes.

I smile. How could I not?

"We can talk about anything you want, Temper."

She purses her lips, tilts her head, then — she smiles. Just a little. Just enough to lighten up the darkness inside my soul.

"First, I want to go for a ride, Bones. Do you know someone who can take me?" Her voice is playful.

I smirk. "I might know someone."

"To the chocolate plums place. And if you still have some of those chocolates, you'd better go and get them." She raises a brow, like she just handed me a challenge.

She doesn't think I have any, but she's wrong. I kept an emergency stash. I wanted to give her another box, but I never got the chance. Until now.

"I'll go grab the box from my office," I say, my voice lighter than it's been in years. "Then I'll take you for that ride."

Her eyes widen, clearly pleasantly surprised.

My heart sings. Panic is still hammering in my chest because I don't know what the fuck she wants to talk about. I don't know where this is leading. But I don't care.

She's here. Shewantsto talk to me.

And for the first time since I found her again, she doesn't look at me like she wants to carve me open.

That's more than I ever fucking dreamed of.

The moment shatters with the heavy thud of Tank's boots pounding against the floor. "Got the damn bag! What the fuck is happening?!"

30. History

Bones

Iwas dead on my feet half an hour ago, ready to sleep off the exhaustion pressing on me. Now? Now, I feel like my entire fucking body is vibrating, too much energy thrumming through my veins, ready to burst out through my chest.

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