She wore a baggy old sweatshirt and a pair of leggings.Too big.Too soft.Too… vulnerable-looking.
It made me feel things I shouldn’t feel.
I followed her into the common room.The place was empty except for Lost, who was passed out on the recliner with a blanket over his face.
“He didn’t make it far,” Shay whispered.
“Lost never does.”His road name fit him well.Lost just always seemed… lost.Like he didn’t know where he was going.
She gave me a tiny smile, and damn if it didn’t hit like a punch.
I motioned toward the couch.“Sit.”
She sat.
I grabbed water from the fridge and tossed it to her when I was close enough.She caught it with both hands like she thought it might explode.
“You good?”I asked.
She twisted the cap.“Can I just lie and say yes?”
“You don’t lie with me.”
Her throat bobbed.“Then no.I’m not good.”
I nodded.“Then you’re normal.”
She let out a shaky exhale.“Did the others say anything?About me?”
Shay had stuck to me like glue all day.I had expected Pearl to make an appearance at some point, but she hadn’t.
“They said what needed saying,” I answered.“Nothing more.”
No one was bringing up Bernice’s name out loud today.Not yet.Anchor was holding himself together by sheer force of will.Skull was cracking jokes to act like everything was fine.Vin was in silent attack mode.Wannabe was shadowing him like a guard dog.
Everyone handled grief differently.
I handled it by focusing on the threat.
Threat was easier.
Shay stared at her water bottle.“Do you think he’s watching right now?The guy…”
I sat on the far end of the couch but angled toward her.Close enough.Not too close.
“We’ve got the perimeter locked down,” I said.“Extra cameras.Extra patrols.He shows his face, he’s dead.”
“That doesn’t answer the question.”
I studied her.“You want the truth?”
“Yes.”
“I think he’s already watched you and everyone in that file for a long time.”I didn’t sugarcoat it.Couldn’t.“The picture in the file wasn’t grabbed off the internet or a fake.It was taken while you were working.Someone got close.”
She swallowed and stared forward like she was trying not to panic.“I shouldn’t have asked.”
“Want me to lie instead?”
