He turned on the taps in the shower, that took a lot less time to heat up than at Roz’s place.
Multiple jets struck his tense muscles from above and behind with the perfect amount of pressure.
Afterward, he located the eye mask in the warmer on his nightstand and wrapped it around his face. He yanked his towel off, climbed on top of the massive bed, and sank into the plush mattress beneath cool cotton sheets.
For the first time in what felt like months, he allowed himself to rest.
He had a sinking feeling his life was about to get real.
But tonight? Tonight, he’d sleep.
White Ravens
Gage
The pounding on the door ripped Gage out of the best sleep of his life.
He jerked upright, a little disoriented, knocking the warm, scented mask from his face.
For a second, he didn’t remember where he was.
“G!” Roz’s voice was loud and urgent. “Get up!”
He rolled until he got to the edge of the bed and his feet hit the warm floor. He rubbed at his eyes as he staggered toward the sound of Roz’s voice.
“I’m coming,” he rasped.
He hurried to the bedroom door and flung it open.
“What is it?”
“They said Scar’s here,” he blurted.
Gage’s fog evaporated, adrenaline knifing through his veins.
“Where?” His heart started pounding hard enough he could hear it in his ears.
“I don’t know. All Rose said was the Blacks’ helicopter just landed, and they’re moving him now.”
Moving him? What does that mean?
“Clothes,” Gage said, reaching blindly for the wardrobe. “Grab me something.”
Roz’s heavy footsteps ate up the hardwood floor before he heard doors sliding on a track, hangers scraping metal and fabrics rustled.
“What the…? Why is ninety-nine percent of this shit white?” Roz muttered. “This is like…winter couture, man.”
“I don’t care,” Gage snapped, pulse racing. “Just give me something.”
Roz pressed some clothes into his hands, and he made quick work of shoving on the fleece-lined joggers and pullover. He didn’t bother with socks, just jammed his feet into his shoes and ran toward the front door.
Rose was there waiting.
“Gage.” She used the same unhurried, warm, professional voice from earlier. “If you’d like, I can take you to Scar right now.”
Do I want to face Scar again?
The question barely formed before his answer was out.
