It made me feel a little better, so yes.
But somehow, I don’t think that’s the response they’re looking for.
“So, what if he did have kids?” Reuben’s voice interjects so suddenly, my eyes snap to his. His irises are the colour of steeped midnight in the mirror at the front of the car. The darkness in them is piercing, but there’s a curious light in them and a small smile touches his lips as he leans on his knuckles.
“Would you have let him go if he did?” His voice has a strange way of creating shivers down my spine. Likely dread.
“No.” I reply honestly, “It would’ve created problems.”
“Why not just steal the car?” Gabriel snaps at me, obviously upset that everyone was now getting into the conversation, and I break away from Reuben’s gaze.
Because I don’t know how to drive.
“I couldn’t while bleeding out,” I say instead and Gabriel snorts.
“Why don’t I shoot you, and you try bleeding and driving, Gibs?” Tobias smiles a scary smile that Gabriel can’t see but the annoying man only huffs to look back out the window, muttering under his breath.
If I could, I would’ve dragged Nash’s body behind me and hiked all the way back to the house—that way an innocent man wouldn’t have had to die—but I was lucky to have anticipated these questions.
If I’d done that, they’d have figured out in no time that I wasn’t people.
I can still feel Reuben’s gaze burrowing into my face, but I ignore it.
“Sooooo,” Xavier grins, and I immediately get a bad feeling, “is it true you shot out Everett’s knees and stuffed a grenade in his mouth?”
I shuffle with new discomfort.
“You did what?” Tobias’ eyes narrow as he watches me.
“I heard it was iconic,” Xavier laughs. “Never seen anyone go out like that for sure.”
There’s a ball of malevolence in my chest as I turn to look out the window. I feel sorry for shutting Xavier down, but I don’t want to talk about Everett.
Ever.
The silence is staggering, but I realize too late I’ve practically opened the window for Gabriel to be an asshole.
“I heard the guy killed the whole team for chump change.”
My blood boils immediately but I keep my gaze fixed out the window.
I dislike that I can feel Reuben’s gaze on my temple.
“It doesn’t matter if it’s a grenade to the face if it comes after your team is dead,” Gabriel continues and I shift my gaze to meet Reuben’s eyes a second time.
If he doesn’t come for his guy, I’m going to shoot him between the eyes.
I know that I’ve schooled my expression into cold indifference, because I practiced it in the mirror a thousand times. I’ve forcefully relaxed my body but I’m on the precipice of grabbing Gabriel by the hair and slamming his head into the door.
I know the warningmustbe clear in my eyes… but Reuben’s gaze is fiery. There’s a light in the shadows of his irises that’s daring me to do it. A smile while he bites down on his bottom lip that’s begging me to.
Crazy bastard.
I must have spent too much time in the shooting range, because my fingers are pulling imaginary triggers aimed directly between Gabriel’s eyes, and his grinis feral in response, “You look like you wanna go.”
“Play nice.” Reuben’s warning is like a splash of cold water in the car and Gabriel clicks his teeth before looking back out the window.
Me? I’m still pulling the imaginary triggers. One for each eye, one at the base of his spine, one in each of his knees. Strangely, I find myself smiling, before forcing the images away. Taking over as Christian must have made me a lot more violent, mentally.
