“Alex and I are the best choices. Rhys, you’re still injured and we’ll need you to stay here, Theo, so you can monitor his wounds and protect him.”
“I can protect myself,” Rhys grumbles with a scowl.
Ollie snorts. “Not like this you can’t. I’m pretty sure Ketchup is deadlier than you are right now.”
A bark of surprised laughter erupts from my lips. “She has you there.”
“Piss off.” He flips me off before turning his attention to Ollie. “Princess, I don’t think you going is a good idea.”
“Well, gumdrop, unfortunately for you, we don’t have a choice,” she snarks back and I can’t help but smirk at her fire. It’s good to see snippets of the old Ollie shining through, especially when they’re directed at the grumpy ex-SAS officer.
“We do have a choice. You stay here with me while Theo and Alex scout ahead.”
“And what happens if you open one of your wounds and you start bleeding? I’m not sewing you back up; I suck at sewing and have zero idea on how to treat injuries. Out of the four of us, I’m the least valuable. If I die or get captured, you won’t be missing anything.” She shrugs, as if it’s the most natural thing in the world to call yourself worthless.
“That’s bullshit,” Alex snaps, echoing my thoughts as all three of us scowl at her.
“It’s the truth.”
“No, it’s a shit excuse to put yourself in danger, princess,” Rhys says in a hard voice, matching her stubbornness with his own. “Martyring yourself won’t save your brother and will only end in your death.”
Her nostrils flare and her emerald eyes burn with anger as they narrow at Rhys. “My point still stands. Theo needs to stay here for his medical experience.”
“Alright, fine, you have a point there,” I say, butting in before Rhys can snap back. The two of them have enough fire and stubbornness to argue the entire night and still not agree. With Rhys’s wounds, that’s the last thing he needs and, judging from the purple beneath Ollie’s eyes, she needs the rest, too.
Rhys and Alex look at me with shocked and disgusted expressions while Ollie just looks triumphant. I roll my eyes and shake my head. When did I become the responsible one of this group? “That doesn’t mean you’re right about being worthless, princess. You’re deadly with a bow, and I imagine with that knife you have as well.”
A shadow crosses her eyes, and she swallows hard, the triumph gone from her face. The stony mask from before slides into place on her face and the fire in her eyes dims. “Right,” she says in a deadened voice.
I share a confused look with Alex. What the hell just happened? Did I say something wrong? Rhys doesn’t seem confused. In fact, there’s a sympathetic expression on his face as he gazes at Ollie.
He sighs. “Princess…”
“Don’t,” she snaps. “I don’t want to talk about it. I’m going tomorrow and there’s nothing any of you can do to stop me. Now excuse me while I take up first watch.” She stands and strides away to take up her post at the window on the floor above us. Surprisingly, Harlow doesn’t follow and instead snuggles up against Alex’s side.
Alex and I turn our confused gazes to Rhys.
“What the bloody hell was that about?” Alex asks as he absently strokes Harlow’s head.
Rhys grimaces and shakes his head. “It’s not for me to say.”
“Bullshit,” Alex snaps.
My jaw clenches. I hate that the two of them are keeping secrets from Alex and me, but from Rhys’s expression, he’s not going to budge. “Leave it, Alex.” I catch his eye over the top of Rhys’s head and I try to convey with a look what I want him to do. If he’s going with Ollie tomorrow, he’s going to have several hours alone with her. A perfect time for her to open up to him.
He presses his lips together and nods. “I’m going to get some shuteye before my watch, then.” He stands and steps over us before disappearing into the darkness of the store. Harlow grumbles at being jostled and cuddles against my side.
I stare after him with a sigh and sink my hand into Harlow’s fur. What a shit fucking day today has been, but I’m under no illusions; things are only going to get worse. We have the almost impossible task of rescuing a bunch of people from a notorious gang, and there’s a looming dread that things between the three of us and Ollie will only get worse.
Scouting Trip
Olivia
Scouting with Alex isn’tthe best decision I’ve ever made, but it’s the only choice I have.
Things are awkward as fuck between the two of us. Alex constantly throws glances my way, hoping to catch my eye while I stubbornly ignore said looks. I know he wants to talk, but there’s nothing more to say.
I’ve made my stance clear; I’m not coming between him and his friends. That means no more kissing, no more jerking off in the bed next to me, and no more growing feelings between us.
