Baz
It was strange being back there after being gone for two years. And bittersweet. The people knew him well after working and living alongside him for decades so on one hand they were happy he was back, On the other hand, they were loyal to Kaia and he’d hurt her deeply so they weren’t sure how to act around him. He got it, he really did. The one that hurt the most was Aimee. She looked at him with so much hurt in her eyes it cut him to the quick.
“Hey shortstack, you’re looking good there.” She was on the training ground with a pair of blades training against a dummy. She didn’t respond.
“I know you’re mad at me. I know I hurt Kaia when I left. I had my reasons, and I’ve already explained them to her. She’s giving me a second chance, why can’t you?”
Aimee whirled on him and held one of her blades pointed at him. “You have no idea what she was like when you left. Youcrushedher, Baz. We’ve lost people before, and it’s upset her, but I’ve never seen her so…shattered. She stayed in her room forweekscrying over you. So don’t you dare come back here and act like all is forgiven because she’s giving you a second chance!”
“I didn’t know. She didn’t say…”
“Of course she didn’t tell you how bad it was. She’s too stubborn for that.”
“Shortstack, I can’t change what I did. If I hadn’t left, you, we, could have lost both her and Rafe—permanently. I know now I should have talked to them but I let my pride get in the way and I took the coward’s way out. All I can do now is work toward forgiveness.”
“What do you mean we could have lost them?”
“Their lives were threatened. Ihadto leave. I didn’t have a choice.”
“Oh.”
He watched her chew her bottom lip as she processed what he’d told her and he waited patiently.
“In that case, I guess I can forgive you, too,” she said.
“Thank you shortstack.”
“But don’t you ever do it again.”
“I don’t plan on it. It damn near killed me to walk away once,” he admitted. “I’ll let you get back to your training. You’re getting good with those blades.”
“Thanks. Kaia’s been training me more with them.”
“I can tell. She is a badass with a blade.”
“Hell, she’s a badass with any weapon.”
“Very true,” Baz said with a laugh and left. He still had a few contacts to reach out to, plus he had to get ready to head into Dushcairn with Kaia and Rafe soon. She wanted to go in early to make sure Draigen wasn’t setting them up. Besides, they needed a few supplies and Kaia wanted to kill two birds with one stone.
“I want eyes everywhere,” Kaia told the team going as lookout. “You see anything that looks suspicious, you give the signal. I’m not anticipating any trouble, since it’s a very public setting, but you can never be too careful. And remember, no getting into it with the Void Syndicate. We don’t need any trouble. If they tell you to move position, you do what the fuck they say and find a new spot. Got it?”
“Got it, boss,” they said almost in unison.
“I want to come with you.”
Kaia turned to where Aimee approached.
“Abso-fucking-lutely not. You’re staying here where it’s safe.”
“Come on, Kaia. I’m not a little girl anymore. You have to let me grow up sometime.”
“Let her come with us. I’ll keep an eye on her,” Tuck said, which surprised Baz. He turned his attention to Kaia, expecting her to shoot the big guy down.
“Fine, but you keep her safe. Anything happens to her, I’m holding you personally responsible.”
Holy. Shit. What just happened? Kaia was letting Aimee go because Tuck said he’d watch her? Would wonders never cease?
“Let’s load up people. We’re wasting precious time. Aimee, you’re with Tuck, Baz, Rafe, and me.”
