Cross’s mind is closed to me all morning.
By the time afternoon rolls around, I’m feeling sick to my stomach. He said he was detained. Does that mean he’s shackled in a cell again? Locked in an interrogation room?
Why isn’t he linking with me, damn it?
I’m leaving the indoor range with Xavier for lunch when—finally—I feel Cross nudging my mind. I’m shaking with relief as I open the link.
“Have they hurt you?”I ask urgently.
“No. I’m out. For now.”
I’m finally able to breathe again.“Okay. Good—wait, what do you mean, ‘for now’?”
“I’ve been summoned to a meeting with my brother tomorrow morning. One on one. Travis said after the meeting, we’ll know where we both stand.”
“What doesthatmean?”
“I don’t know. But I don’t like it.”
“Me, neither. He just murdered sixteen people on a live broadcast. Killing one more won’t make a difference to him.”A fresh wave of fear coats my throat.“Cross, you need to get out of—”
“No, I need you to listen to me right now,”he interrupts.“Can you find a way for us to meet tonight? We need to talk.”
“Let’s talk now.”
“No. I’m dealing with something. Do you remember your airfields from Silver Block training? The runway in Ward E, the one that was decommissioned—meet me there. Midnight.”
“I don’t know if I’ll be able to get a transport—”
“Try.”
Xavier and I near the mess hall, where I catch sight of Teriq and Gray on their way to the door.
I hurry toward the two men, managing to intercept Gray before he can slip through the door. I grip his arm. “Can we speak alone for a second?”
Frowning, he lets me pull him aside so we’re not blocking the doorway. “What’s wrong?”
“I need another favor.”
Immediately, his expression darkens. “Fuck’s sake.”
“Please.” I bite my lip. “I need transport to Ward E tonight.”
“Not going to the brothel this time?” His voice contains a sharper edge now, a malice that wasn’t there before.
“Please, can you fly me out there? For midnight? I wouldn’t ask if it wasn’t important. Dire, even.”
He’s quiet for a moment. His tense body language tells me he doesn’t want to do this. But then he surprises me by jerking his head in a nod.
“You’re in luck. I’m taking Declan back to Bramble Base tonight.”
Hope sparks inside me. I remember him saying the base is in Ward H. That’s just south of E.
“We were going to leave earlier, but I can hold off until closer to midnight.”
“Thank you.” I squeeze his arm in gratitude, but he shakes me off and stalks away.
We take the hybrid. Declan sits with Gray in the cockpit while I’m in the jump seat behind them. I haven’t seen Declan since he was whisked off to the medical bay, weak and panting. Now he looks like he’s in perfect health.
