Page 159 of Fangs
I felt a pang of disappointment.
“Does this have to do with the uprising?”I asked.
“Kinda. We’re trying to build a better radio tower to reach farther.”He hesitated, then added,“Sam’s comin’ on this one.”
My head shot up. “What?”
“This contact…well, he knows Sam. We could do it without him, but it’s gonna be a helluva lot easier if Sam comes.”
Fear made my skin prickle. “Is it going to be dangerous?”
“Shouldn’t be, but you never know.”
I stared at him, my mind whirling, but none of the frantic things I wanted to say came out of my mouth.
“I’ll keep him safe, Em,”he murmured.
I swallowed hard and forced myself not to beg him to order Sam to stay here.
“You know, this is what the rest of us have to deal with all the time, knowing people might get hurt and not being able to heal them magically.”
“I hate it,” I muttered.
He snorted, shaking his head, then added, “Oh, Raven wanted me to tell you that when we get back, you’re starting training.”
I groaned.
“I’d say you’ll be fine, but I don’t want to lie.”
He was smiling wide enough that both dimples were out. I tried to jab him with my elbow, but he caught it with one hand, still grinning.
“Just think, you might be able to land a hit like that with some training,” he teased.
“Oh fuck off,” I grumbled at him, but with no heat in it.
“I could hear Sable’s thoughts when he came back,”he said suddenly, still holding my elbow.“He was worried about you. I don’t think he holds any grudges against you for the things Juck did.”His face grew serious.“Which is good ’cause he shouldn’t. If he did, he and I would be havin’ a talk.”
“Mac—"
“Trey mentioned a few times that you were lookin’ for atonement.”
My stomach lurched.
“And I’m just wonderin’, if no one blames you, who are you lookin’ for atonement from?”
“Some peopledoblame me,”I muttered, careful to keep Hawk’s face from my thoughts.
“Blame you for what?”
“For doing whatever I was told, even if it hurt someone else.”
“Seems shitty to blame the person who didn’t have a choice.”
“I did have a choice, Mac, and I chose myself.”
“I don’t think it’s that simple.”He released my elbow and spoke out loud, “Do you remember when I came into the clinic and questioned you about…well, the escaped prisoner who turned out to be Lee?” He waited until I nodded and continued, “You said somethin’ to me I haven’t been able to forget.”
I couldn’t remember what I’d said at that moment. Mostly, I remembered Mac trapping me against the sink and my confusion over why Trey hadn’t taken the opportunity to lie to Mac and hurt me back.
