“Not since he tasked me with getting you through the Blacklands.” Xavier curses softly. “Shit. It’s closing in on a year now.”
I hear the note of sadness in his voice. He and Cross were best friends their whole lives, and now…silence. Of course it hurts.
Watching him interact with Jasper, I can’t help but wonder if he’s trying to find a replacement for Cross. They’re thick as thieves, those two. Well, I suppose theyarethieves, now that Xavier’s joined the smuggling business. Still, there’s a familiarity between them that wasn’t there before. Not necessarily intimate, but they’ve clearly grown close since Xavier moved to the Hollow.
When Adrienne goes to use the lav, Jasper saunters back to us, eyeing Xavier expectantly. “Did you tell her?”
Xavier shoots him a glare in return, his face transmitting a very obviousWhy the hell would you say that?
My guard instantly snaps up. “Tell me what?”
“About your mutual friend.” Jasper gives me a knowing look, and a ripple of anger travels through me.
If Xavier revealed that Cross is Modified…
I don’t miss the gleam of reassurance in Xavier’s eyes. “Jas knows you were involved with a captain on the base. You know, forbidden romance between Aberrant and Prime, the usual sordid story.”
It’s his way of telling me Cross’s secret is safe, and I hope I mask my relief in time.
Jasper shrugs. “Happens all the time, Wren. But you’re better off staying away from those Command fuckers—”
“Hey,” Xavier objects good-naturedly.
“—and honestly, it’s probably a good thing your captain has moved on,” Jasper finishes.
I swivel my head toward Xavier, who curses under his breath. “Moved on how?”
Hesitation creases his features. “Look, I didn’t want to tell you…Well, I wasgoingto tell you, but then I saw you, and we started talking, and I realized it didn’t need to be said.” He frowns at Jasper in rebuke. “And he had to go and fucking ruin it.”
“What exactly are you trying to say?” I ask uneasily.
“Cross has been seeing other women.”
Every cell in my body turns to ice. “ ‘Women’? As in more than one?”
Xavier shifts in discomfort. “I mean, we don’t know if it’s more than one, but he’s frequented Haven on more than one occasion.”
I narrow my eyes. “Bullshit. If he goes to Haven, it’s only to drink. Cross doesn’t visit the upstairs rooms.”
The two men say nothing.
I insist, “He doesn’t.”
Jasper sighs. “Sorry, sweetling, but he does.”
“How can you be so sure?” I challenge.
“I saw it,” he answers.
“Really.” Doubt drips from my voice. “You saw Cross Redden with another woman at Haven.”
“Yes.”
“I don’t believe you.”
“It’s true. Walked in on him by accident. It’s actually a hilarious story. Or at leastIthought it was. But then I told the LT, and he didn’t laugh.”
No. I still don’t believe it. My mind is racing, a dozen questions tumbling over one another.
