“You sure about this, boss?”
Not at all, but do it anyway.”
“You got it. Let’s go, kid.” Tuck gently took Aimee’s arm and led her away.
Kaia turned to Baz, crossed her arms, and arched a brow at him. “Well? You have my attention, now what?”
Baz ran a hand through his short-cropped blonde hair. “I didn’t want to leave you and Rafe, Kaia, but I had to go, for your own protection.”
“Our protection?” she scoffed. “Right.”
“I can’t explain right now, but it’s true. If I had stayed, your lives would have been in jeopardy. I’ve thought of you both every fucking day. I’ll explain everything to you soon, I promise.”
“Save your promises, Baz. I already know what they’re worth. Absolutely nothing. You proved that when you walked away. I have to go. I have to get Aimee back to the compound before she finds a way to get herself into any more mischief.” With that she turned and walked away.
“Are you okay?” Aimee asked softly from the passenger seat once Kaia climbed into the driver’s seat of the rover.
“I’m as okay as I can be.” One thing she’d promised she would never do was lie to Aimee, she wasn’t going to start now. “Seeing him again hurts like hell, but I knew there was always the chance it might happen.”
“Where’s he been all this time?” Tuck asked from the backseat as they made their way out of Duskcairn.
“I don’t know. We didn’t get that far into the conversation.”
“Whatdidhe say?” Aimee asked. “Why did he leave like that, without even saying goodbye?”
“He claimed it was for mine and Rafe’s protection. He said if he’d stayed, our lives would have been in jeopardy.”
“What the fuck?” Tuck asked.
“I don’t know. I didn’t ask. Honestly, it doesn’t matter. He could have told us. If he’d loved us like he’d said he did, he would have given us the choice, but he took the choice from us.”
“I don’t know, boss. They say love can make you do stupid shit. Maybe he did what he thought was best,” Tuck interjected.
“Who’s side are you on?” Kaia asked.
“Yours, always. I’m just trying to give a less biased view of things.”
She snorted at that. “Right. Whatever. It’s done. We’re not talking about this anymore. Aimee, the next time I tell you to do something, you fucking do it. Whatever Silas has planned, you can bet your ass I’m not going to like it, but I’ll do it because there’s no way in hell I’m letting him whore you out.”
“I’m sorry, Kaia. I didn’t mean to put you in this position.”
“I know you didn’t, sweetie. Just don’t do it again. And damn it, no more fighting with the Void Syndicate!”
“Yeah. In hindsight that was kinda dumb.”
“Kinda? Try really, Aimee. You’re lucky you only got a year. You could have gotten longer. And you’re really lucky you got out early. Why did that happen anyway?”
“Good behavior, according to my jailer. Hey, I’m not complaining. That place is a dump.”
“It can also be very dangerous. That’s why I told you to keep your head down and your nose clean while you were in there. I’m glad you listened to me for a change.”
“Hey! I listen. Sometimes.”
They all laughed at that.
“So, um, where’s Rafe? Why didn’t he come too?” Aimee asked.
Kaia sighed. She knew that eventually Aimee would get around to asking about him. “To be honest, hun, I’m not sure. The last few weeks he’s been…different. He’s grown distant and aloof. I don’t know what’s going on with him and he won’t talk to me. Every time I try he shuts me down.”
