Page 52 of Twisted Shadows
Reece winced again. “Was he using you for protection even then—”
“No,” said Grayson. “I was the one who was scared of the thunder. He was trying to make me feel better.”
Reece blinked.
“I got a million stories like that, and I bet Detective St. James does too,” said Grayson. “So it doesn’t matter what you two did to us and it doesn’t matter why you did it. Sure, I’ve got extra strength and speed, and that’s my brother’s fault, but if you want me to be angry at the toddler who caught pneumonia because he wouldn’t stop checking on me when I was sick, it’s never gonna happen.” He met Reece’s eyes. “And I’ve never been a thrall either.”
“But how do youknow?”
“Because if I were an empath thrall, I wouldn’t be able to do my job,” said Grayson. “How many times have I had you in handcuffs?”
“How many times have you saved my life?” Reece countered, wrapping his arms around himself. “You came out of nowhere to save an empath tonight. Why else would you have done that if not for your empath brother making you believe you have to? If it wasn’t our influence, why would both you and Jamey care so much about protecting people?”
“Why wouldn’t we?” Grayson said. “Maybe most of this world acts like other people don’t matter. Maybe we got politicians selling human rights to corporations and those billionaires who hoard wealth while children starve. But maybe some of us would rather make the world better instead of worse. Maybe St. James and I see how much stronger and faster we are than everyone else, and it makes us want to be protectors, not bullies.”
Reece bit his lip again. “So you think you came tonight of your own free will?”
“I know I did,” said Grayson. “I came because it’s what I wanted to do.”
Reece’s gaze darted over his face. Most empaths couldn’t stand to look at Grayson at all, his emotionless presence unbearable, and Reece had been the same when they’d first met in November.
Now, though. His gaze didn’t linger in one place too long and he didn’t look too deep into Grayson’s eyes, but he wasn’t cringing or looking away. “So youdostill want things?” Reece finally said. “Even without emotions?”
Grayson’s gaze flicked over Reece before he could stop himself. “I told you,” he said. “Reflexes are a funny thing. But they’re stillmyreflexes, not just the empty motions of some thrall.”
Reece picked up his silverware, rolled tight into a napkin. He toyed with it, turning it around in his hand. “You’re sure? Like, really reallyreallysure?”
Grayson reached out and tapped Reece on the hand. “Yeah, Care Bear. I’m sure.”
A ghost of a smile crossed Reece’s face.
Grayson lingered for just a second, his fingers against the back of Reece’s hand, the glove between them. The only part of Reece he could for sure touch without consequences. His hand was bigger than Reece’s, but then, he was bigger than Reece, full stop, which was just one more reason Reece ought to call him when there was trouble.
The waitress was approaching with a tray loaded with plates. Grayson pulled his hand away. “Next time you’re in danger, call me, all right?”
Reece snorted. “I told you thathey, baby, call me if there’s dangerline wasn’t going to work on me,” he said, curling the fingers on the hand Grayson had just touched. “You’rethe danger.”
“Oh, I am,” Grayson agreed. “But I’m not the only danger out there. I was in Burlington because a killer put gloves on a corpse, so we’d think the victim was an empath.”
Reece paled. “I’m so sorry—”
“I know,” Grayson said. “But I don’t think it’s a coincidence that I was supposed to be across the country investigating a decoy empath murder while someone tried to kidnap you at gunpoint. And no disrespect, but you got any idea how easy it is for bad folks to target an empath?”
“Whateasy? Look what happened tonight. I’m dangerous too—”
“If you hadn’t lost control of your fear, would you have acted with an ounce of self-preservation and run? Or would you have gone with him without a fight?”
“Don’t be ridiculous,” Reece said, with a dramatic scoff, but he wasn’t quite meeting Grayson’s eyes. “Obviously I wouldn’t just peacefully go with a kidnapper.”
Grayson would’ve seen that flinch from space. “Reece.”
“Well—I mean—maybe it’s a little more complicated than a straight no—”
“Mr. Davies.”
Reece huffed. “Okay, but what if I resisted or didn’t go with him and that guy hurt someone?”
Grayson stared at him until he squirmed. “Call me next time,” Grayson said pointedly.
