Page 28 of Requiem
“I know,” he murmurs.
“There’s nothing stopping him from releasing everything.”
He tilts his head. “He at least knows that we have something on him, too. Even if, at the moment, our weapon isn’t loaded. At least we still have it.”
My stomach hurts. “What if he calls your bluff?” I ask.
“He might,” he replies. “If that did happen, then I don’t really have a comforting answer for you.”
“Okay.”
Rafe studies me for a moment longer, then he exhales. “I need to take care of something.”
“Okay,” say again. Because I don’t know what else to say right now.
There’s a pause, then the bed shifts as he stands, the warmth beside me disappearing. “Emma,” he says softly, pausing at the door.
I look toward him, barely able to make out his shape in the dark.
“Try to sleep. We need your mind at its sharpest.”
“I’ll try.”
He doesn’t respond. Just opens the door and slips out into the hallway, closing it gently behind him. And then it’s just me, alone in the dark. My fingers curl into the blanket as I stare up at the ceiling. My eyes burn, but no tears fall this time. I think I’ve finally run out, at least for now. All that’s left is this hollow, aching space that I don’t really know what to do with. I swallow, shifting onto my side, pulling the blanket up to my chin.
And I can’t help when my mind drifts. Back to a time when everything felt simple, with a version of him that I don’t think I’ll ever get back. I really thought I knew what my future looked like.
~ A memory ~
The air smells like salt and smoke. Fireworks crackle somewhere above us, bright bursts of color lighting up the night sky in flashes of red and gold and white. The sound echoes over the water, mixing with music and laughter from people celebrating all around us.
I’m barefoot in the sand, slightly unsteady, my head light and hazy with alcohol.
Heather is in front of me, already giggling and dancing. Her arms are in the air, her hair wild around her shoulders as she spins, grabbing my hands and pulling me with her. “Come on!” she shouts over the music.
“I am!”I reply, stumbling into her as we both try to move to the same beat and completely fail.
We’re a mess. A loud, ridiculous, happy mess.
I throw my head back, laughing as another firework explodes overhead, the light catching everything in brief, glowing flashes. People are scattered along the shoreline, some dancing, some shouting, some already running toward the water.
It’s perfect chaos tonight.
And then strong, familiar hands wrap around my waist from behind, and I barely have time to react before I’m lifted right off the ground with a surprised yelp.
“Jude!” I yell, instinctively grabbing onto him as he throws me over his shoulder like I weigh nothing.
“Let’s go, girlie,” he says, his voice bright with the same drunken energy.
“Where are we going?” I’m laughing so hard now that I can barely get the words out, my hands braced against his back as he takes off toward the water.
“Close your eyes.”
“No, no, that’s not reassuring!”
He smirks and charges straight into the ocean with me still thrown over his shoulder, the cold water crashing around his legs as I shriek.
“Jude! Whatta ‘bout the ssharks?” I ask, slurring my words. “I’m also wearing a dress.”
