Page 111 of Ramshackle
“You should go see Aiden,” Dane says, knocking my mood back to where it had been with the cuffs.
“Why?”
“He hardly eats. He’s not sleeping. He told all of us to get some rest, but I can guarantee he went straight to his office and will be up all night.”
My chest tightens. I’ve been noticing small signs of it, but I haven’t wanted to acknowledge it. It’s not my problem.He’snot my problem.
“He’s a big boy. He knows how to take care of himself,” I answer, trying to keep my voice calm.
“He’s become obsessed with doing whatever it takes to make things up to you. Even if that means skipping sleep and forgetting to eat. He found Gabe for your knee, now possibly your father; what do you think he’s going to do next? It’s not going to stop.He’snot going to stop.”
“What are you asking of me, Dane? To tell him that everything’s all better? It’s not my responsibility to make him feel better over what he did,” I snap, heat gathering in my chest.
Dane takes my arm, and we stop walking. Kellan does the same, crossing his arms but staying quiet. “He made some mistakes, Rae. Haven’t you ever made those before? What matters is that he’s trying to fix it now.”
What else is he trying to do? How far is he planning to take this?
Why do I care?
Because I still care about him.
I press my lips together, and Dane sighs. “Just…think about it. Okay? I’ve already tried to talk sense into him, and I don’t think anything will change unless it’s coming from you.”
Chapter thirty-two
Raegan
I toss and turnlong after Kellan and Dane fall asleep. It doesn’t matter that my body is tired or that we’ve been awake for over twenty-four hours. My mind is spinning from one thought to the next. The second I try to push something from my mind, another item pops up to take its place.
Vera.
Royce.
Why did she give me the cuffs?
Dane maybe knowing my secret.
And if he does, did he tell the others?
The possibility of having a father.
The plan to capture Thorne.
Dane’s worry for Aiden.
Sighing, I rub my face. None of these thoughts are getting me anywhere. I need to get up and move around.
I’m dressed in a simple pajama shirt and shorts, but throw on slippers and a satin robe that came with the set before leaving the room.
It’s still the early hours of the morning, and most of the bunker is fast asleep. The lights in the hallway cast a soft, muted glow as if walking in the moonlight. It’s enough to see by, but also casts shadows and adds to the silent eeriness of a sleeping underground fortress.
I don’t know where I’m going at first. I think I’m wandering just to move, but when I find myself standing in the open doorway of Aiden’s office, I realize a part of me knew I was seeking him out.
Picking a fight with him is an easy distraction.
But I don’t like that I immediately ran tohimwhen I needed one. Jack’s out watching Thorne, but why didn’t I wake up Kell? Or even Dane? Why did I go to Aiden?
I shouldn’t need him.
