Page 60 of Fangs
Raven was quiet while I swiped angrily at my damp eyes with Sam’s handkerchief.
“You ever want help with that,” Raven began almost hesitantly, “lemme know.”
I glanced up to find her looking uncharacteristically serious, something almostgentleintermixed with the grief in her eyes. Several tears tumbled down my face, and I quickly swiped them away again as I nodded. I desperately needed to change the subject.
“I really have to pee,” I blurted out.
“Alright,” Raven said, looking slightly relieved I wasn’t bursting into tears, “c’mon, then.”
I thought I was going to pass out on the stairs, but somehow I managed. Raven hovered next to me, but to my relief, she didn’t offer to help. As the main floor of Nemo’s house came into view, I faltered. I had a fuckingaudience.
Nemo, and a handful of his people, stood around one of the tables covered in drawing plans. Wolf stood at the bottom of the stairs, with Lee, Tuck, and Scar behind him. Sam stood alone and off to the side. All of them were looking at me. I hesitated, briefly considering going back up and just using the damn bedpan.
“Chin up,” Raven growled. “Don’t let ’em cow you.”
I wanted to tell her I was already cowed, but I swallowed hard, lifted my chin, and continued slowly down the stairs. Sam gave me an encouraging nod when I met his gaze. As I finally reached the bottom of the stairs, Nemo approached.
“Well, howdy, Bones,” he said, his voice warm. “I’m so glad to see you on your feet.”
I didn’t know what to say, frozen like a deer in a floodlight.
“You’re welcome to stay as long as you need,” Nemo continued, and when I glanced up at him, he smiled. “I’ll let you get back to it. Just wanted to say hello.”
I nodded, feeling awkward. Raven looped her arm through mine and started pulling me toward the door. When we stepped outside, the cool air filling my lungs made me feel like I could finally breathe a little easier. It looked like it was about midday. Several people stopped at the sight of me, smiling and waving. Some took a step toward us like they wanted to come over, but their eyes flicked to Raven, and they quickly continued what they’d been doing. I looked at Raven, too, catching her glaring fiercely at anyone looking at us. My heart ached.
I was shaky and breathing hard when we made it to the outhouse. Raven helped me sit and then frowned at me.
“You’re so fuckin’ skinny, Boney. When are you gonna start training?”
“Training?” I repeated.
“Training. We gotta get some muscle on those bones since you attract more trouble than shit attracts flies.”
My face warmed, but her voice was matter-of-fact, not cruel.
“When you feel better, we’re gonna start, alright?”
Training with Raven sounded like torture, but I nodded, anyway. I wasn’t dumb enough to argue in my current position.
When we stepped out of the outhouse, Raven abruptly stopped. I followed her gaze to see Jax running toward us, his face panicked.
“Raven,” he gasped as he neared. “We need you.”
Raven swore under her breath. The worry in her eyes made my stomach clench.
“What’s wrong?” I demanded.
“Nothin’ you need to worry about, right now,” Raven snapped.
“What?”
“Can you make it back to Nemo’s house by yourself?” Raven asked, ignoring my question.
“Yeah,” I said, hoping it was true. “But what’s wrong?”
“Everything’s fine,” Raven insisted sharply. “You go back inside and tell Sam I had to run. He’ll take over.”
“But—”
