Page 150 of The Reluctant Hero

“No,” she says absently. “Shade can take care of himself. I’ll deal with it before he has a chance to prove it. Tera…”

“She sounds innocent. How far along is she?” If I have to rub her nose in this, I will. South is awesome, and her self-confidence is staggering. A littletoostaggering. She can’t be everywhere at once, though.

South doesn’t answer me.

I glance down at her phone and shift a little so she can’t see. She gave me the code so I can open it. There are only two numbers saved in the contacts.

I slide the ringer off and click on Tera to send a quick text, trying to be subtle.

Me: This is Amanda. I’m in trouble. Meeting not good for you. Stay safe!

I keep an eye on South, who’s focusing on the road when the phone vibrates.

Tera: You are everything I hoped for. Raincheck. Out of here.

The amount of clapping hands, hearts, and smiley face emojis that follow is slightly concerning. I delete it and make sure it’s totally gone before I relax.

A few minutes later, a silver car passes us. I recognize Asher's blond hair. A young brunette woman leans across him to wave at us with a giant, excited grin.

South raises a finger back, and her eyes roll toward me without moving her head.

“Snooze and lose,” I flip her off.

“A game,” her shoulders relax after she says it, and I raise a brow.

“No. Keeping people as safe as I can. At least the innocent ones.”

“You would be safer with Gabriel.”

“Don’t you fucking dare. Let me jump out of this truck, going at full speed.Thatwould be safer than that pack of jackals. Did he have me arrested today? I forget. I didn’t put it in my planner, but I couldswearhe did.”

“He paid.”

“Good for him.Not forgiven. Besides, as soon as he sees his SUV I think protection and me would not be in the same stratosphere for him. Plus I don’t know how far in league with Blake they are. No chance.”

I’m gutted at saying it out loud.

“Gabriel despises Blake for many reasons. They aren’t a team. You’ll stay with me. Get some rest. A shower.”

“Can I do laundry first?” I ask darkly. I’m ignoring the first part of her speech. The thought of wearing something that got tossed around like trash disgusts me. The clothes I’m in currently disgust me, too. I’ve gotten used to the sunburned feel of sand grating everywhere. I’m also afraid I’ll smell either Ace or Gabriel’s cologne. I cringe at the knife thrust of pain the thought brings up.

“Of course,” she replies blandly. “What are you feeling right now?”

I glance at her in confusion before I blurt out the first thing that comes to mind. “Hollow.”

She nods, but her brows furrow. “Hungry hollow orfullhollow?”

How weird is it that she understands what that means when it’s a whole new experience for me? I’m used to the fiery rage, not this cold seething inside that leaves me blank. I have to focus on trying to explain it.

I’m calm. Like whatever anger is inside got pacified by the violence I indulged in. It isn’t gone, though.

“Waiting?” I try with a frown. Yeah, that sounds about right. It’s storing itself up for another big explosion. Something far worse than property damage can cover.

She blinks and tilts her head. “You’re focused now. After some rest, you’ll be better. And then you can feed it.”

I know exactly what she means and I’m concerned about hownotconcerned I am over it.

We head out of town to her small home. A fancy car is parked under the awning, and all the lights are on. As soon as we hit the gravel, Shade is on the front porch waiting for her in some kind of cartoon pajamas.

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