Page 74 of Raze
I hear Kellan’s fist connect with the wall. “If you’ve done anything to her…”
“I didn’t harm a single hair on her head, Kell. Now, get out.” The door slams shut.
Kellan shows up at the table, roughly yanking out a chair, and then, glaring at it, knocks it to the side and opts for pacing instead. I’m watching him over the edge of my coffee cup when his eyes snap over to me, and he realizes I’ve moved from the couch. Instead of taunting me over it, he growls to himself and keeps pacing the floor.
I move to the table and set Aiden’s coffee down before sitting in my seat. I rarely make the others coffee, but I feel the smallest smidge of guilt that Aiden’s taking the heat from Kellan becauseof my issues with Raegan. I’m assuming that’s why Aiden’s been keeping his distance from her and is treating her in a way he never had on the island.
Another way I’m fucking up his life.
I take another sip of coffee, even though it scalds my tongue and burns the taste buds off.
Aiden strolls out in thick sweatpants and a plain shirt. He’s barefoot as well, which means he really wasn’t ready to wake up yet. If he even fell asleep. His face is drawn with exhaustion like he’d been up all night thinking instead of sleeping.
The second Aiden pulls out his chair to sit, Kell is spinning around and jumping down his throat. “What happened?”
“Give him a fucking second!” I snap. Nothing is going to change with her situation, whatever it is, by ripping the answers out in thirty seconds instead of giving Aiden a second to breathe first.
My heel pops off the ground again to bounce up and down. I keep it from touching the floor so no one else can hear it, but it helps me release the anxious energy coiled tightly in my chest.
Aiden sighs and lifts his cup of coffee. “Thank you,” he offers me tiredly before bringing it to his lips.
Kellan’s hands smack down on either side of the table as he leans over it from the opposite side of the table from Aiden. His body is quivering and tight. I think if he knew exactly where she was right now, he’d be running there.
“She wouldn’t tell me anything,” Aiden begins.
“I knew I should have been the one to stop her.” Kellan grips the table in his hands. “She would have talked to me.”
Aiden scoffs. “She would have given you a distraction and then slipped away while your back was turned. I made sure she didn’t leave. That was more important.”
“How?” Kellan demands.
“By locking her up in the bunker.”
My foot flattens on the ground as I stare at him in shock.
“You WHAT?!” Kellan roars.
“Sorry, but how did you ask her what was going on? And go from that to locking her up?” I ask with feigned nonchalance. As if none of what he just said bothers me at all, even though my chest is tight and my fingers flex and then grip my coffee mug.
“I demanded she tell me, or she’d be staying there.”
Kellan groans. “How can you suck at talking to Raegan so much? You don’t have a problem talking with the Guild members, even when you’re scolding them.” He stands up and moves away from the table. “I’m getting her out and bringing her back here.”
Aiden sets his coffee mug down abruptly. “No.” Kell’s chest puffs up, but Aiden’s eyes snap to mine. “Dane’s going to get her out.”
My eyes narrow at him. “Why?” My voice comes out caustic, which sets off a growl in Kellan, but I keep my focus trained on Aiden.
“Because whatever her problem is, it has to do with you. Or Vera. This all started after your last adventure that almost got you both killed. So, you go let her free and figure this out.”
My mouth tightens. I have an idea of what she might be upset about. No, not an idea. A slew of them. I just don’t know which of them are the ones that made her think it was better for her to leavethan stick around.
I have some things to say to her anyway, so I just nod that I’ll do it without further complaint.
“I’m coming with you.” Kellan crosses his arms over his chest, prepared to fight with me on it, but I haven’t gone anywhere alone in a very long time.
“No shit,” I snark at him. “You’re driving.”
“Pick up groceries on your way back. I won’t be able to get them today, and we’re almost out,” Aiden slides in like it’s nothing. “Oh, and you’ll need this.” His hand pushes something across the table to me and then returns to his coffee mug.
