“Wolf?”Her voice cuts through the speaker, soft and real and alive.
I flatten a hand against the thunder in my chest, ordering my heart to calm down.
“I’m here, Bluebird.”I lean toward the console, elbows on my knees, and meet Jag’s molten amber gaze.
“Okay.Good.”She exhales on the other end, a sound I desperately miss.“I was starting to worry you’d do something dramatic.”
“Never.”I give Jag an innocent look.“I’m all restraint and safety first.”
He pinches the bridge of his nose.
“That’s a lie.”A smile teases her voice.“But listen to me.I’m safe.I’m healthy.I’m… Comfortable.”
I glance sideways at Jag.He hasn’t moved, but his jaw tightens.
“This place… It’s not what you think.I’m not scared.Not hurt.No one’s touched me.”
“It’s been eleven days.”My lungs finally start working again.
“Yeah.I know.But they’ve kept me busy.There’s a garage.Like, you wouldn’t believe the cars.The food is crazy good.And the women?”She inhales.“They’re terrifying in the best way.Badass doesn’t cover it.”
I close my eyes, picturing Liv Reed, Camila Dias, the Gomez sisters, and Lydia the former Russian operative… Yeah.Those women don’t survive things.They go to war.
“Don’t worry about me.I…” Her hesitation snaps my eyes open.“Is he there?”
Jag’s expression fractures in a way I’ve never seen.Raw relief.Bottomless love.And regret.His sadness is so heavy it darkens everything else.
“Yeah.He’s here.”I find his hand on his thigh and lace our fingers together.“He can hear you.”
“Oh.”She pauses as if rearranging herself.“I don’t know what’s going on.Not all of it.Probably not even a sliver of it.But I know whatever this is, it involves you saving my life.Again.I have so many questions, but I was given very specific instructions about what I can and can’t say on this line, so I’m trying not to screw that up.”
“I’m coming for you.”His voice breaks.
“I know.That’s the one thing I’ve always been able to count on.”She draws in a breath, and it comes out choppy.“I’ve had time to think, and after talking with some new friends, I’ve been able to look back, see things differently, and sort out pieces I couldn’t line up before.But when I see you again, you better fucking be straight with me.About all of it.”
“I will.”He glances down at his hand and discreetly lifts his smallest finger.“I swear it.”
“He’s staring at his pinkie.”I grip it and bring it to my mouth.“From here on out, we tell the truth.”
She makes an un-Dove-like whimpering sound and coughs to cover it up.
“When you come for me…” Her voice wobbles.“I want you united.The way I know you want to be.”
I clutch Jag’s hand, and he stares back at me, stunned.
“What are you saying?”I tilt my head.
“Is he trustworthy?”she asks.
I remember our conversation the night before she was taken, when she admitted she could’ve shared me with Jag… If he were trustworthy.
“That’s a stupidly easyyes.He’s solid and proven all the way down.”I take a breath.“There’s so much you don’t know yet.So many things we’ll tell you when we see you.”
“Yeah.I’m quickly realizing that the not-knowing part is the main issue.”She sniffs.“But you trust him, and I trust you.So what you choose to do together won’t hurt me.Just… Don’t forget about me.Because I’m not stepping aside.”
“Sweet Bird…” I laugh, breathless and wrecked, tears prickling behind my eyes.“There is no version of reality where there’s an us without you.You’re the whole point.”
She smiles into the line.I can’t hear it, but I know all her pauses.
