A man like this greasy guy will respond to Micah’s physical strength in a way he’d never respond to a smallish woman like me.
But my deep relief is short-lived. What I expect to happen now doesn’t happen at all.
At all.
The greasy guy’s eyes go wide. “Micah? Fuckin’ shit, man, is that really you? I thought you kicked the bucket months ago!”
Shock is lodged in my throat, nearly stopping mybreath as I stare between the guy and Micah, who has stepped forward so he’s beside me.
Then something else unexpected happens. The small, pregnant woman lets out an excited squeal and starts running.
Until she’s thrown herself right into Micah’s arms in an exuberant hug.
“Oh my God, Micah,” she says. “We thought you were dead!”
“Hey, Lilah. Good to see you too. But don’t squeeze me quite so hard. I got shot a couple weeks ago.”
The woman, clearly named Lilah, lets him go with a gasp. “Oh no. I’m so sorry. Are you okay?”
“Yeah. I’m fine.” Before Micah can say anything else, the big, mute guy has come over with a grin to greet him by pounding him on the back.
I let out a long, slow breath as my heart and my stomach sink slowly.
I should have known.
I should haveknown.
Micah is one of Logan’s soldiers. Everything he said about his background makes even more sense with this final piece of the puzzle.
Of course he is.
Why would I ever think anything else?
Why did I believe he was better than that?
I swallow hard and take a step away from him, still wary because there are a lot more of them than there areof me. And, sure, Lilah and the big guy appear friendly. Not dangerous at all.
But that doesn’t mean they aren’t.
I didn’t think Micah was dangerous either.
Micah is shooting me a series of quick, worried looks. He knows what I’m thinking. He knows I’m withdrawing.
This was exactly why he didn’t want to show himself at the Market. It wasn’t about that gang who’s after him.
If there’s even a gang at all.
His whole backstory might have been full of lies.
“Thank God you’re back,” Lilah says, smiling so warmly it’s impossible for me to believe she’s anything but sincere. She obviously loves Micah for real. “No word on Burgundy?”
Micah shakes his head, his mood falling in that way it always does when his sister crosses his mind.
Lilah’s expression falls too. “I’m so sorry. I miss her so much. But you’re back now?”
“No, I’m not really back.” Micah looks stiff. Oddly trapped. “I mean, I’m not joining up again. We’re just here today to trade.”
Lilah’s smile has transformed into a confused frown as she looks from Micah to me and then back. “So you weren’t even going to let us know you’re all right?”
