Page 48 of Digit's Deflection
I take a minute to gather my thoughts, trying to find the right words to convey what’s on my mind. But it’s hard. Theconversation we’re about to have is going to strip me bare, leave me vulnerable.
“I need to tell you about what happened with Mav. I can’t give you specifics, I can’t tell you where we were, but I can tell you about how it went down with him.”
Liora compresses her lips, her eyes solemn. “Um – okay.”
“Years ago, Indigo got caught up in something at college. She didn’t do anything wrong, just got involved with the wrong guy. Unfortunately, she only found that out when it was too late.
“This fucker’s terrorized her for years, playing a sick game of cat and mouse. Popping up out of nowhere, attempting to blackmail her into stealing for him. He’s into black market over the counter drugs – well, was.”
“Oh God, that’s terrible. Poor Indigo.”
“Yeah, it was. When he couldn’t get anything right with her, he targeted Sage. He told her he’d kill Indigo if she didn’t do what he wanted, and she believed him. Mainly because he was a psychopath. Raging fucking lunatic.”
Room service picks that moment to knock. Silently cursing, I get to my feet to let them in and sign for our dinner. When the guy’s gone, Li and I settle at the tiny table to eat.
“So what happened next?” she asks around a bite of her sandwich.
“We captured him, and his defense team requested bail. Due to circumstances beyond his control, the judge was forced to grant it to him, and he disappeared without a trace. We’ve been trying to recapture him ever since.
“When he grabbed Indigo’s dad, that was pretty much the last straw. We were done fucking around and made it our mission to hunt him to ground. And we did. Everything was going well, until it wasn’t. When we breached the room the commander was being held in, he was there.”
“Shit, Treven, just the thought has my stomach knotting.”
Reaching over, I give her hand lying on the table a gentle squeeze.
“Long story short, things got wild, and he fired a shot, intending to kill Commander Jones. Mav …” I take a healthy slug of my beer, to wash down the food that’s suddenly stuck in my throat. “Mav saw what was going down and threw himself in front of the commander, to protect him.
“It should have been okay, Li – he should have been okay. He was wearing a vest, safety gear. But the bullet went high and ripped through his artery. God, Li, it was over in minutes. He was there, and then he was gone. Watching the light go out of his eyes …” This time there’s no holding the tears at bay.
It’s raw and scores deep. “He told me to tell Sheri he loved her and that he was sorry he wouldn’t be coming home. I watched him take his last breath – watched his lifeforce fade and his eyes go blank.”
Through my own tears I look up at Liora to find silent tears flowing down her pale cheeks. She gets up from her side of the table and comes to sit in my lap, wrapping her arms around me tight.
“I’m so, so sorry you had to live through that, baby. Nobody should have to lose a loved one like that.”
“It haunts me, Li. I can’t get it out of my head.”
“Yeah, I know it. I’ve noticed how poorly you’re sleeping. I just wish I knew how to help you.”
“Well, that’s actually what I wanted to talk to you about. Between my trauma caused by Mav’s death, and yours at your father’s hands, I was thinking maybe we could go see someone.
“There’s a therapist that Indigo and Eloise go to, she seems nice, and they absolutely adore her. Maybe we could go talk to her.” I lean back a bit to see her face better, gauge what she might be thinking.
And I’m surprised to find that she’s not shut down or closed herself off to the idea. Her expression is clear – almost thoughtful even. She stares at me for long minutes that turn awkward, but I sit still, letting her process in her own way.
When she’s ready, she says, “I think that maybe you’re on to something. Maybe weshouldgo talk to the good doctor. If we want a future together, especially kids, then it’s probably a really good idea.
“I don’t want to pass my neuroses on to our children. And I don’t want them to be a barrier to a healthy sex life between us, because as things stand, it’s always in the back of my mind that you’re going to want more than I can currently offer you. Or what happens if I keep freaking out every time you tie me up because I asked you to.”
“Yeah?”
“Yeah. Let’s do it.” She nods.
Pulling Liora in, I touch my lips to hers, rubbing them over the soft pillows, before gently sinking my teeth into her bottom one. She hums low in the back of her throat, and the sound vibrates through me.
And that’s all it takes to get me all fired up. I get to my feet with her in my arms and hurry to the bedroom. If I don’t have her this second, I might just self-combust.
24
