Page 39 of Bullets and Blood
ChapterTwenty-Three
Lance didn’t sleep.Couldn’t.Every time he closed his eyes, Nix was there.His smile and snap.The glimmer of gold in his blue eyes as he’s tried to enchant him.The words had wrapped around him.If he’d been human, he’d have nodded his head and agreed.As it was, they’d caressed his skin waiting to be invited in.If he forgot Nix, his life would be simpler, but he was sure he’d always know something was missing.
All his life, he’d been expected to prove himself worthy of being blooded and then work for his family.But after chasing Nix for six months, he didn’t want to go back.He liked the freedom.He didn’t want to be a killer.He didn’t want to become Nix, all spines and hard shell because he was afraid of letting people in.With no more Hadleys left, who would be left to fight and kill?
If he wasn’t working for his family, who would he be?
He finished drinking the beers that were in the fridge, trying not to think about the brewery they’d stopped in at and the way Nix had pulled a face at every beer but had tried them all anyway because it was something Lance wanted to do.
He shouldn’t have let Nix walk out.
He’d used ensorcellment!That hurt far more than Nix backing away because he was scared.
He wanted to call Nix, to talk things through, but he had no new plans.No brilliant idea that saved them both.The truce had always been temporary.They’d both known that, and they were fools for wanting more.
He had a job to do, and Nix had decided to stop running.
Idiot.
When he ran out of beer, he stared at the blank TV screen.He was used to following orders, not making plans.He raked his fingers through his hair and picked up his phone, pulling up the number the Reid’s had given him.He stared it.He’d be deliberately acting against his family if he called.
He picked up his other phone, the cheap one Nix had told him to get.He typed in the number, then hit call.
“Hello.”The man on the other end said as though he’d been expecting the call.
“It’s Lance Orlan.I need your help.”
“We cannot get involved with?—”
“I don’t want to hunt him.I want to save him.”
The man was silent for a moment.Lance had no idea how high up the Reid family the man was or even what his first name was, only that he was the contact Lance had been given when he’d been granted permission to hunt Nix in Reid territory.
“We cannot get involved.”
Lance sighed and closed his gritty eyes.“Of course not.”He was on his own.How could he fight his family?Nix was much smarter and more skilled than him, and he’d still failed.
“But we can deny entry to the rest of your family.”
Lance lifted his head as hope lightened his lead heart.It was the fragile lifeline he needed, and he grabbed ahold.“Really?”
“In the interest of balance and peace.But…why do you want to save him now?”
Because I love him.“My intel was wrong.He’s done with the feud, and he doesn’t deserve to die.”
“Hmm.I can tell you no other Orlans have been given permission to enter, and we’ll deny all future applications.”
“Thank you.”He breathed a little easier as he hung up.
As long as they didn’t leave the Reid territory, they should be safe.A smile formed.His other phone rang, and he nearly dropped the one in his hand.
The number on the screen was painfully familiar.Scott.
“You do know there’s a three-hour time difference?”Lance tried to sound like he’d been woken up.
“I want an update.You’ve been there for over a week, and now he’s bought camping gear.What is going on?Or are you taking an extended holiday?”
“Do you know how many camp sites are in this area?I have to check each one.And that’s assuming he’s using a campsite.”
