Page 42 of Tabitha

Pierce pours a cup of coffee, then hands it to me. I take it automatically, not sure what to make of the man. To my surprise, instead of walking away, he takes a sip of his own drink and watches Bast trying to teach Tabitha how to cook.

It’s a disaster, like the blind leading the blind.

Bast might be able to put together the basics, but anything more complicated always ends up tasting like ketchup. I shudder. It’s like he thinks the red condiment is a secret ingredient or something.

“You’re not asking my opinion,” Pierce says without looking away from the girl. “But if youwereto ask my opinion, I would say treat her like one of your computers. Use logic if you want to get answers. Ask her without emotions why she accepted the challenge and why she chose River to fight. She doesn’t understand why you’re mad. It’s like she can’t process it.”

He says nothing more, just grabs the silverware and joins River at the table. I gaze after him for a heartbeat, then cock my head and twist to look at Tabitha.

If there is one thing I know, it’s computers.

Logic.

Facts.

I step into the kitchen, thentskat Bast. “Do NOT put ketchup on that!”

I nudge him aside rather forcefully and take over preparing the meal. I expect Tabitha to disappear with him, but she remains and peers curiously down at the food. I watch her from the corner of my eye, marveling at her beauty, despite my anger. “You don’t know how to cook?”

A furrow appears between her brows, and she purses her lips. “I understand the concept. I can grill over an open flame, but all this fancy stuff feels…extra.”

I look at the spices and pans but don’t see anything fancy, and something inside me stills. What kind of life has she had that a pan and a few spices is considered something special?

I spice the meat, push the vegetables toward her, and instruct her on how to cut them while I prepare the pan. I glance at Pierce over my shoulder, only to find all three knuckleheads watching me. Pierce tips his head toward Tabitha, urging me to continue, and I blow out a breath, suddenly feeling like I’m treading on quicksand and one wrong move could sink me.

Think computers.

Narrow down parameters in order to get the correct answers.

Direct.

Blunt.

“Why did you encourage the fight?” I gently press the thick strips of steak into the searing pan, the meat instantly sizzling.

Tabitha doesn’t even glance up from cutting the peppers in front of her. “Banks is looking for a way to get rid of you and the others. This direct challenge is better than him attacking you in the middle of the night.”

I relax a little, her answer sounding logical…until she speaks again.

“Anyway, if theyhadwon, then they would’ve been forced to help me pack up the house. I could’ve learned their patterns, listened to their discussions, and used the time to figure out what happened to McNeil.”

At her complete lack of concern, fury ignites in my chest and threatens to burn my insides to a crisp. When I open my mouth to blast her, a throat clears behind me, cutting me off. I snap my mouth closed, clenching my jaw to hold back my caustic words at her blatant insensitivity.

I inhale sharply through my nose, focusing on the steaks in the pan until I can get myself under control. “You weren’t worried about River?”

“Of course not!” Tabitha snorts, laughing like the idea is absurd. “While River might be all smiles, he’s a killer down to the bone. Out of all of you, he has the ruthlessness to face off against an opponent who wants him dead and not flinch. While Banks might have underestimated River, I had no doubt that he would win.”

Even from across the room, River stands straighter, his chest puffing up with pride. Something about her praise, especially when she is completely unaware of the audience, banishes the shadows in his eyes.

Bast looks torn between exasperation and amusement. River is going to be impossible to live with now. As much as I hate to admit it, she’s a steadying presence for him. Even Bast has smiled and laughed more today than the last three weeks put together.

While she might not be totally evil, she’s definitely not full of sunshine and rainbows, either.

She’s a wild card.

Her unpredictable nature makes her dangerous, but maybe she’s exactly what we need to shake things up…both with the mission and in our lives.

I study Pierce, but the man only smirks before turning away to get drinks for the table.

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