Page 86 of Cops and Robbers

She sat.

“So, you’re giving up on Raz already?” he asked.

Her breath caught. “He doesn’t want me, an untrustworthy criminal. I was just fooling myself into thinking I could be something else.”

“But aren’t you something else? When I look at you, I don’t see a criminal. I see someone who’s making up for past wrongs by whatever means necessary. It’s not your fault you trusted the wrong person. The lengths you went to and the fact that you got her out of that situation show just how worthy you are of Raz. For as long as I’ve known him, he’s never given someone as much control over our operations as he gave you, and he’s never been so carefree. It’s been refreshing to see.”

A ball of emotion lodged in the back of her throat and unfurled into sadness, acceptance, and pride that stung in her eyes. This was a man who had stood by Raz for ages, and for him to say that—it meant the world to her and shook some of the darkness shadowing her heart.

“Even if that’s true…there’s nothing I can do,” she said.

“Did he tell you why he’s a Rogue?”

Kate nodded.

“When he couldn’t save his clan, it wrecked him. He protects us like family. So when we go on a mission, he takes the failures hard on himself.”

“And now, because of me, you—“

“Stop,” Caige said. “We all make our own choices. I could have let her fall to her death.”

“Why didn’t you?”

“Up in the plane, emotions clouded her judgment. Death and revenge against you weren’t the answer for her. Matsuda is vulnerable since he won’t know Midnight has her body until the next doctor’s rotation. But if she reincarnated, he’d learn she was free while she grew up again.”

His words held a hint of warmth. He’d risked his life so Naomi could have the upper hand. Pragmatically, it was the best move for them, but there was a depth to his words that had her questioning his motives. At least Naomi didn’t jump in front of that car or try to hurt Kate with it, so something must have gotten to her.

“I’m still breathing, so Raz can get the fuck over it,” he said. “Don’t give up.”

Her chest swelled. She didn’t know if she could win him back, but she had to try. “Thank you for the push.”

As Caige adjusted himself, he winced in pain. I can’t let you suffer. Her jaw locked, and she touched his bare fingertips.

Energy flowed and sparked from her wings. She pulled Caige through time as far as she could to bring his body back to a moment when it was more whole, just as she did her Cohearts, Bonnie and Clyde, to make them live longer. White pain stabbed down her spine. All her feathers littered the floor. She bowed over Caige’s hand—with coldness seeping from his flesh.

“What th-the hell d-did-d you d-do?” Caige asked, shivering.

“A miracle. Not enough, but you’ll be healed more.” She straightened with a wince.

He nodded as if in thanks.

She grinned, but her face fell as she remembered the other feathers that had saved him. “Not that it changes anything, but Naomi saved you with a miracle that day.”

“I had a feeling she’d done something.” He leaned back into the pillow. “At least I know I made the right decision.”

There was hope for Naomi. Not that Kate doubted her, but she didn’t know what kind of woman Naomi had become when Matsuda forced her to kill people.

A clatter sounded, then thudding followed up the steps.

She dove out the window but peeked back inside. “I wasn’t here.”

A sweet scent tickled Raz’s consciousness. He shot up in bed, sheets tangling about his legs. What the hell?

Kate’s aroma was faint but still permeated the hotel room. He shifted and something scratched against his arm. He grabbed the Post-it note from the left side of his chest.

A satin pink lip print winked at him.

He rubbed and held his face as her intention to steal his heart fell over him.