“There,” Ace said, “All fixed up. You’ll probably have a wicked scar.”
“Thanks,” I said, and meant it. “I’ll have to make up a good story.”
He didn’t move away. Instead, he stayed sitting by my side. “Did you change your mind about seeing my associate?”
“Associate? Are you in a street gang?”
“I wouldn’t exactly call her a friend.”
I groaned and leaned back in my chair. “Is this an ex by any chance?”
Ace blinked at me. “No, why would you think that?”
“I don’t know. Just the way you were talking. It makes me think you don’t really want to see this person.”
“I don’t.”
“But you're offering to take me there anyway.” I didn’t need him to respond. His expression already told me the answer.
He shifted his gaze from me to Nala. “She needs help.”
“Is it dangerous to meet this mysterious associate of yours?”
“Travelling through the forest will present certain dangers,” he said slowly, as if stalling for time.
Did he think I would crumble in the face of danger? Did he not know me at all? “That’s not what I asked, and you know it.”
“My contact will not pose an immediate danger,” he said carefully, without making eye contact.
“You’re making it very hard to trust you right now,” I said. “And I’m trying.”
He sighed. “I can’t vouch for her behaviour indefinitely. You will be safe with me for this visit, and only this visit, and only because you’re with me. She will also ask for some sort of payment. It’s always been reasonable in the past—a small fee or favour that was within my abilities to grant. I can’t say what she’ll ask from you. Her request might also place you in danger.”
“Okay.”
“So, I don’t want to say you’re going to be safe, and I don't want you to lower your guard. I also don’t want you to feel betrayed. You will have the option of saying no and leaving safely.”
“You could’ve just told me all this at the start.”
“And I would’ve done exactly that, but you stomped out of the cabin before I had a chance.”
I sat back in my chair. He said he would’ve shared this information freely, but was that the truth? Right now, it felt like I was pulling teeth, prying snippets of information from him, one small painful detail after the other.
He bit his lips as if to stop them from tugging up at the corners. He failed.
“What?”
“I was going to say something that would probably get me shot.”
I narrowed my eyes. “I have an empty quiver. Now’s your chance.”
His grin widened. “I don’t like it when you’re angry.”
I waited. Something incredibly condescending or infuriating was about to fall out of his mouth. “But?”
“You’re kind of hot when you’re angry?”
I huffed out a breath. “Seriously?”
