Meridian glared, but didn’t repeat himself, before he turned and walked away.
Scar watched people clear out of his path as if they didn’t want to be the reason he stopped.
Scar hesitated for half a second before he went to find the weird guy responsible for his wardrobe.
White Ravens
Gage
Roz led Gage to the medical wing.
“You good?” he whispered near his ear.
“I’m fine.”
Roz made that familiar sound when he knew he was lying.
Gage chuckled, “I’m just focused, okay.”
“M’kay.”
“I want to do good,” he said, surprising himself. “Not what I thought was good when I was sixteen and my dad took me to nursing homes to host Bible study, or my weekly Meals on Wheels duty. I want to help save nations, Roz.”
Roz didn’t laugh or tease him.
“I always believed there was a greater purpose for my life. But I was stupid, and made a grave, impatient, egotistical mistake.”
A surge of gratitude filled his spirit.
“Now, I’ve been given a second chance to fulfill that purpose.”
Roz slowed a fraction. “You really think you can partner with Scar?”
Gage didn’t answer right away. The question had merit. Not just because Scar was Scar. But because Gage could still feel the imprint of Scar’s hand when he was half-sedated and clutching onto him in the medical wing.
“I’ve never had a problem with Scar,” he said.
Roz’s laugh lacked humor. “Well, he damn sure had a problem with you.”
Yeah, he had all that aggression and heat, but never once acted on it.
They reached a set of doors that opened with a hydraulic whisper and a melodic chime sounded when they walked inside.
Roz inched closer to him.
“Gage. Mateo. Good evening.”
Dr. Aliyah Rockwell didn’t sound like the average stiff lab coat. Her voice was competence wrapped in reassurance.
The closer she got, the more her clean botanical scent overrode the stench of antiseptics.
“Good evening, Dr. Rockwell,” he said, forcing a halfhearted smile.
“Dr. Rockwell.” Roz’s greeting sounded more like an accusation.
“Still overprotective and untrusting, I see. Good. I like that in a handler,” she noted before moving on. “Gage, Jo tasked me with compiling the best specialists from all over the world, and I believe the team we’ve assembled here will exceed all your expectations.”
Dr. Rockwell began to introduce everyone.
