Page 98 of Ramshackle
But coming from Jack, I try to accept it as the truth.
“And you?” I quietly ask.
“Mm…I can be patient. Save it for when it’ll be used better.”
Oh. I wish I had his level of control, but I’m sure my impulsivity falls somewhere between Dane and Kellan.
“Right now, all I need is you, little one.”
He heels his boots off, then pulls his hoodie over his head and drops it to the floor. Pulling back the covers, he encourages me under them first before he joins me.
Jackson tucks me into his side, my head on his chest and his arm wrapped around my back. He strokes my hair, staring at the ceiling like he’s viewing and processing all the information in his head.
“That was the girl on the island,” he observes calmly.
“Mm,” I confirm softly, even though he hadn’t posed it as a question.
“He used her against you.” Again, he’s stating it as a fact. I don’t say anything this time, not trusting my voice or mental state to attempt to elaborate any further.
He kisses my hair. “Sleep. I’ll stay with you until you wake.”
“Catch.” Dane tosses a fresh water bottle at me after I finish off my first one. “I know you’re gung-ho with training now that your knee is better, but can we stop for a lunch break? I’m starving.”
I take one more mouthful and screw the cap back on to prevent myself from drinking too much, too fast after the workout we’ve put in. It’s been a few days since Gabriel fixed my knee. When I went to check on him after getting sleep from the healing, he was bright and chipper. No sign of what he’d gone through for me. No visible one, at least.
I can’t imagine what memories he’s been left with from others. What horrors and tortures has he seen—experienced—to help them?
And, of all people, why did he help me when he didn’t know me?
He brushed off my concern with some off-handed comment about fighting for love that I didn’t understand and sent me on my way to test out my new knee while he enjoyed himself a bath.
Since then, I’ve spent most of my time training with Kellan and Dane. More Guild members have been steadily joining these sessions as well, so Kellan has partnered me with Dane when he needs to help other teams decide what to work on.
“Good idea,” Kellan cuts in, stealing the bottle from my hand and drinking the rest of it. I smack him, and he grins. “Let’s hit the showers and meet out here in fifteen.”
I wrinkle my nose. “Wait. Here? I was going to go back to my room—”
“Today, we’re going to the mess hall for lunch.” He turns his gaze to mine. “To sit. At a table.” His grin progressively widens as he tacks on more expectations. “With people.”
I snatch the empty water bottle from him and take the opportunity to move away and toss it in the bin. “Is there a point to all this?”
“Well, I’m glad you asked, beautiful. You’ve been here now, what, a few weeks? And you’ve somehow avoided all interaction with the members here. I know you’re not shy. So, I figured I’d help you out.”
I haven’t beenavoidingthem. Have I?
I guess I do spend all my time when we’re not out of the bunker either in my room, Aiden’s office, or this training room. I’m not avoiding anyone. I’m just…not going out of my way to meet them, either.
Am I putting them in danger by knowing me? Look what’s happening between the guys and Gordon. And poor Reid got mixed in by association.
Could I really risk these people, who Aiden and the others fought to save?
“I’m trying to reduce her casualties by association.”
My gaze clashes with Dane as his words ring in my ears. He catches my stare and holds it as if waiting to see what I need from him. It’s such a different look from when I’d first arrived in this city. The vitriol he’d slung at me during that time burned deeper than I’d ever admit.
His eyes shutter, and he inhales sharply. “Fuck.” He storms over to me and crushes me in a hug. “I didn’t mean that. I was just angry and trying to say anything that could hurt you. I’m sorry, Rae.”
I breathe him in, my hands gripping his shirt.
