I shoot him a grin. “I have no clue what you’re talking about.” I laugh as the three of us rise and meet the others before heading below for the evening.
Cameron stands by the door, waiting for Erik to leave his room and head upstairs like Reed reported would happen.
He hasn’t spoken much and has been lost somewhere in his thoughts all evening.
I lean against the wall beside him and study his focused expression. He likely hasn’t even noticed that I moved to be closer.
“Cam?”
He flinches and slowly lets his eyes flick down at me. There’s a sea of worry in his gaze—a storm on the horizon waiting to spill over.
“Em?” he whispers softly, stealing away my courage.
“Did something happen this morning? You seem on edge after meeting with Erik.” His demeanor makes me uncomfortable, did the lieutenant say something to him that he’s not sharing?
Cameron offers me a torn smile. “No. We just had a nice walk.” He pauses and lets his eyes shift back to watching the hallway. “Is it weird that I’m trying to memorize the small moments before they end?” he says sadly.
I bite the corner of my lip. I know exactly how he feels. Saying goodbye to someone you felt was like a guardian to you can’t be easy, but I’m not sure if that’s what he’s referring to.
“No, I don’t think so. In a way, it’s like saying a silent goodbye.” I trace my fingers up his arm as I move to his back, wrapping my arms around his chest and hugging him tightly.
His hand presses over mine and squeezes.
The sound of a door closing makes us freeze. Cameron watches quietly and waits until we hear a second, farther away door shutting before he nods at me. “That was Erik. I’ll meet Reed, you get Wraith and Damian, and sterilize the bathroom.”
If he wasn’t acting so off, I’d readily agree. But something is wrong and I don’t feel comfortable with him leaving after the lieutenant. A pang of guilt slips into my veins for not trusting him, but it’d be better if I met with Reed. I need to confront him anyway.
“I’ll go get Reed. You stay and get things ready. I need to speak with him privately,” I say nervously, already knowing that Cameron’s going to fight me on it.
He lifts a brow. “Why?”
“There’s something I need to get off my chest with him… I’m not asking,” I say sternly.
He takes me in, firming his lips like he’s going to argue with me before letting out a sigh. “Okay, but be quick. I don’t know how long we have.”
I nod, swiftly moving over to the wardrobe and grabbing the extra uniform we set aside to give Reed so it’s easier to sneak him in.
Rain drums down on my shoulders heavily. I should’ve checked the weather for tonight. The guards always have the channel on in their small room at the entrance of the hangar, but of course I’d forget that weather plays a factor in everything.
My blood pumps loudly in my ears as I take the trail leading to the bent fence post. A figure is already waiting there for me. I’d know him even in darkness—if I could see nothing but the shape of his bones—I’d know it was Reed.
I slow my jog and stop a few feet away from him. His hood is pulled up, but it doesn’t hide his cruel eyes as they take me in.
A small wrinkle forms between his brows. “Emery?” He was expecting Cameron.
I glower at him and shove the extra uniform into his arms. “Hurry up and get dressed,” I snap at him and turn around, folding my arms tightly around myself.
He chuckles, a sound I’ve known for far too long.
“Well, I’m surprised he actually told you about the deal he has with me. I didn’t think the broken soldier had it in him. Then again, he’s been full of nothing but surprises.” Reed sounds delighted. I hate that he’s so conniving. It’s impossible to know what he’s really after. I’ve never been able to figure him out. Not entirely.
“What are you doing getting mixed up in all of this, Reed? Do you have any idea what Greg will do to you if he finds out that you’ve been leaking information to the Dark Forces?” I hate howworried I sound, but as much as I loathe Reed right now, he’s like family. If he were to die… I don’t know what I’d do.
The sound of him tossing clothes onto the fence post makes me flinch.Having my back to him is terrifying.
“Emery, I promise you don’t need to worry about me. You know me, I’m always four steps ahead and have plenty of backup plans if shit turns the other way.” He says it simply, as if he really is that prepared. “Oh, you really made that haircut work for you.”
He pats my shoulder to let me know he’s done. I throw him a glare from over my shoulder. “No thanks to you. At least tell me what you’re really after.” I swat his hand away.
