I understand her suspicion, even if I don’t like it. “Like Kimba said, he’s sleeping.”
“I don’t believe you.”
“You don’t have to. But it’s true.” I glance at Trench, and then back to her. “Look up how far away Calisan is and then tell me if you’d be here after going there, finding what he did, and coming all the way back.”
“Kilo showed up.”
Risk snorts. “Kilo is a masochist. And he probably didn’t leave after they gave their report.”
Jess can’t argue with that, so she doesn’t. But she doesn’t give up.
“There’s something you’re not telling us. I want to know what it is. Arc hasn’t been patrolling.”
“You will know when youneedto know. Kimba and Drift are aware. They’ve given us permission to keep certain things to ourselves.”
She lets out a heavy huff and seems to reset her body, adjusting every aspect of her posture. “I don’t trust any of you. You’ve got too many secrets.”
“Maybe. But maybe you should consider why Kimba didn’t say anything about ‘what we’re hiding.’”
That makes her brows pinch and she looks at me like she’s no longer certain. Then, she goes to Kimba, who does not look at me with gratitude when Jessica delivers her opening question.
“Is he okay?” Trench asks, and I nod, still watching his bondmate.
“She might get more answers if she was a little less… hostile to him.” Risk stretches out his neck.
Trench’s smile is tense with irritation. “We both know that is a reaction he brought on himself.”
“Now that you know why, does it change things?”
“A little, but not enough.” He gestures vaguely toward Jess. “At some point, that secret is going to come out.”
“We know.”
“Just imagine what they’re going to feel if they know he’s been listening to their private thoughts.”
I look up at him and manage not to laugh. “Just imagine what they’ll do when they find out I can see the future.”
“What?”
“We all have our secrets, Trench. Some of them are a little more explosive than others.”
He looks at me, and for a moment I know he thinks I’ve said it just to throw him off. But I see when he accepts that it’s not a lie.
“Why haven’t you told anyone that?”
“How do you think Richter would react if I told him I knew Laurel was going to be run off the road someday?” I look away. “How do you think Breaker would feel if he found out I knew Faith was going to die? Or that bringing her back would nearly kill him?”
Trench doesn’t say anything. Whatcouldhe say?
“What I see is inevitable. I can’t change it, I just have to live with it.” I laugh as that argument flashes in my mind, eyes unfocusing. “Whenthis all comes out—and it will, soon—you’ll stay quiet. You and Jess will sit back and watch them explode. There’s one more secret to learn before that… and Jess won’tletyou help us once that’s revealed.”
“Is it Risk’s secret?”
“No, this one belongs to all of us… and one other person.”
“The woman Kimba asked about.”
I tip my head to the side in an acknowledgement. “She works for the Agency.” I say it so I can give him something without lying to him.
