CHAPTER 25
Wraith
“You’re not pissedI took Boone with us?”
Pax looks at me with an eyebrow raised. “I imagine he made the choice for you. Tell me I’m wrong.”
Chuckling, I shake my head. “You’re not wrong. He forced Shadow’s hand.”
“He does that.”
He’s perched on the edge of the bed, and I realize there’s tension creasing his face. “You’re in pain?”
He nods. “I could use a pain pill.”
“Where are they?”
He nods in the direction of the dresser. “Word of warning—they send me into space.”
“That’s okay. It’s late and you should sleep anyway.” I shake a pill out of the bottle and hand it to him, then pass him the water bottle from the nightstand. “What else do you need?”
“You.” He swallows the pill.
“You’ve got me. I’m gonna shower real quick and then I’ll be back.”
Pax nods. “I’ll be here.”
I shrug out of my coat, laying it across an armchair.
“So Boone was right and he helped tonight?”
“Boone was right. We intercepted a shipment of drugs and people. Kids. They were going to be sent to Bolivia.”
“Fuck.”
“He helped save those kids and seriously handicap that operation going forward. The risk he took was huge, but it paid off.”
“Do I want to know any details?”
“That’s up to you.”
He twists his lips for a second. “Are the bad guys dead?”
I nod.
“Did Boone…” He pauses, shaking his head. “Nothing?”
“No, he didn’t. He helped get the kids to safety, that’s all.”
“And you?”
“I did my job, Pax.” Smiling, I pat his ankle. “Rest. I’ll be back quickly.”
Heading to the bathroom, I try to shake off the lingering feeling that Pax is going to run. I don’t blame him, but fuck, I would give anything to keep him.
After a very quick shower, I walk back into the bedroom with a towel around my waist. Pax is lying slightly propped up with a dopey smile on his face and his eyes hooded.
“How ya feeling?”
