“Good. Well, men, Squirt, we will be commencing the mission tonight. We need to be vigilant and make sure we know exactly how many of their crew are left.”
After the attack last week, I thought it would be dangerous for us to attend the party. But Gale explained to me that the Sub-Rosa group has integrated themselves into this town so perfectly that they wouldn’t give themselves away just to snuff out our squad.
It’s the same vice versa. The Icarus Squad has melded themselves into Bane Falls in the same fashion, under a ruse of being civilians. So even though it seems dangerous to go to the party, unless they know all of our faces and catch us alone, we’re good.
“Remember the one rule tonight.” Roman looks squarely at me, and I suppress the urge to roll my eyes.
“Stay in the crowd and with one of you at all times…except for when I deliver the message to Grahm,” I state matter-of-factly.
Roman nods coldly. “Let’s cause some trouble tonight, Icarus.”
27
BRIAR
The party isin the same location, and it’s every bit as grand as it was the first time. Only now the weather has grown quite a bit colder and the larches have started to turn yellow.
I inhale the crisp air and grip the edge of Roman’s jacket. His steps falter, and he stops and turns to look at me. The dullness in his gaze could carve my heart out.
“Did I do something wrong?” I manage to get the words out before clenching my jaw and looking at the ground. “I’m scared to do this tonight, and you’re not making me feel better about it by pushing me away.”
Roman’s eyes widen, and the light seeps back into them. He bends and presses a kiss to my forehead. “Sorry for being a dick in the war room. I’m… Fuck, I don’t know. I spoke to our commanding general, and it put me in a shit place in my head,” he says? with a guilty tone.
My gaze falters, and I let it shift to the bonfire that’s just now catching flame.
“You could’ve told me that you’d be leaving.”
“No, I couldn’t.”
I look up at him, and he stares down at me.
“Can we make the best of it until then?” he asks and curls a few fingers around mine.
I put on a fake smile. “Of course.”
We make our way up toward the party to join the others. We have a mission to see through, after all.
“Do you think I’ll make it across the ocean? Or do you think I’ll drown?” I swallow my emotions and shove them down into my stomach.
Roman slows until he brings us to a stop, not yet to the crowd that’s already half drunk and the bumping, loud music that vibrates through my bones.
His eyes are cold and distant as he stares at something far away. “This world is dark. Greedy. It’s so starved for bright little things like you. The Dark Forces taught me that.” He lets his words trail off as his attention shifts back to me. “You’ll make it, but you’ll have to swim like you did at the lake.”
I nod and consider my words. “Will I have baggage like I did at the lake?” I tease and give him a wry smile.
That pulls his lovely laugh out from his chest and makes my cheeks warm.
“Nothing to hold you back, no.” He quickly turns his head, tugs my hand, and leads me into the party. The moment he’s not looking, I let the pain ebb into my expression.
Alone.I’m always alone in the end.
There are at least twice as many people here than there were before. I’m a little shocked but at the same time, there must be a dozen other small towns around this one that have nothing to do but join the one giant party Bane Falls throws every weekend.
The smell of smoke, beer, and a variety of perfumes mingles around a group of people dancing. Kegs are on the ground, and beer cans are lined up on tables where people grab what they need before returning to the grind fest. I spot the one cop in Bane Falls here, dressed in casual wear while tossing alcoholbeverages to people who put their hands up. I only recognize him because I saw his picture in the auto shop, pinned up in the war room identifying him as Sheriff Murray.
“And they say Murray isn’t vital to this town,” I say sarcastically, trying to stay rooted in the moment and have as much fun as I can tonight.
Roman chuckles. “Honestly, I wouldn’t be surprised if he was in on the underworld’s presence in his town.” There’s not a lick of humor in his tone.
