“Greedy. Or maybe desperate. We don’t know anything about his situation.”
“I know. Probably better we don’t.”
“I agree.”
Biting back a groan, I give myself a small shake. “Okay. I’m going to change clothes, clean up, and then go see about Troy’s body. I’ll deal with Jasper after that.”
Troy was shot four times.They must have cleaned him up a little after they brought him back, but his clothes are bloodied and the gunshot wounds are painfully obvious.
He looks so pale. Young.
He was a boy with a crush this morning, and now he’s a cold, dead body.
I drop to my knees beside him, resting a hand on his shoulder. No one else is around, and I feel sick and sad.
And guilty.
Like Troy dead on the ground is my fault.
He would have done anything for me. He was so proud about helping to set up a meeting with Robin. He’d heard word of our doings for years, so he set out to find us as soon as he was old enough to leave home.
He’d still be alive right now if it weren’t for me.
I hug my arms to my stomach and lean over slightly, trying to contain the swelling emotion.
It wasn’t his fault he trusted his cousin. Troy did absolutely nothing wrong. Nothing to deserve this.
I’m wrapped up in my own thoughts but not enough to miss a new stirring in the camp. Something is happening.
Turning around, I see what it is.
Ryan, talking to Vella across the courtyard.
And Ben—Ben—running toward me.
He’s upset. That much is obvious from the urgency of his stride and the tension on his face. He must have sensed vibes on returning, demanded to hear what was happening, and then rushed toward me.
And now he’s here before I can even get to my feet.
For a moment, I think he’s going to pull me up and hug me, and part of me wants that right now, even though it’s not something we ever do.
But after a weird moment, he drops to his knees besideme. Reaches out to put one big hand on my thigh. “I’m so sorry.”
“It’s not your fault.”
“Well, I should’ve been here, but that’s not what I meant. I’m sorry you had to go through all this shit alone.”
For some reason, that gets to me. I feel like I’m choking. Turn my face away from him to regain my control.
His hand is warm and heavy on my leg. I feel it even through the denim of my jeans.
“Thank you,” I manage to say at last. “But I had Vella and Roderick. They did good. Everyone did good.”
“Except Jasper.”
“Yes. Except Jasper.” I straighten my shoulders and inhale, but the air comes in with a rasp. “Shit.”
“You’re gonna have to deal with it. Soon.”
