“What do you want me to say? That I regret helping you escape? I don’t. Saving your life wasn’t, and will never be, a mistake.”
Some of my irritation thaws.“You should’ve told me you were being tortured.”
“I wasn’t being tortured.”
“You had to listen to Roe bitch at you every day. I consider that torture.”
“You had enough on your plate. I didn’t want you to worry.”
“Iwantyou to worry me. I need to know this stuff, Cross.” My frustration bubbles over.“We’re supposed to be a team.”
“We are.”
“Well, that means you don’t have to handle everything on your own anymore. You can come to me for support. You can talk to me. Andyou need to fucking tell me if you’re strung up in a cell somewhere. Promise me.”
“Dove—”
“Promise me.”
“I promise,”he says gruffly.
But I can’t fight the feeling that he’s lying to me again.
Despite Cross’s assurances, I’m still fuming after our conversation. The last thing I want to do is go to dinner by myself, but Gray is gone, and my stomach demands nourishment, so I force my feet to carry me out the door. I wish I could press a button and have my meals delivered, but these people aren’t my servants. I’ll just have to suck up my discomfort.
I try to appear as inoffensive as possible in a pair of jeans and the only item of color I find in my closet: a loose lilac shirt. I’m a dark-color kind of girl, so wearing purple feels wrong, but Tana always used to say that vibrant colors make other people feel at ease. So let’s put these assholes the fuck at ease.
As I turn the corner toward the mess hall, I slam square into Evlynne. We collide hard, bringing a flash of displeasure to her eyes.
“Watch where you’re going,” she snaps, striding away before I can apologize.
She doesn’t look at ease.
I keep walking. They’re serving steak and mashed potatoes tonight, and it smells incredible. I load up a plate, then hesitate at the end of the line, glancing around. I spot Mako with a group of men I saw at the gun range earlier. I consider joining them until I notice Evlynne heading their way. Ugh. Pass.
Teriq is across the room, but he’s with the perpetually frowning Fiona, so that’s out, too.
Finally, I locate Hawkins eating alone in the corner.
After some reluctance, I stride toward him. When I set my tray on his table, I swear I hear a collective breath travel through the mess hall.
Hawkins glances up from his plate, a slight scowl appearing. “You don’t want to sit here.”
“Why not?”
“Because I don’t want you to sit here.”
“Oh.” Embarrassment tickles my throat. “I’m sorry. I should have asked.”
NowI’mnot at ease.
Cheeks flushed, I pick up the tray, scanning the room until I notice Saint watching me from a nearby table with Henley and two young women I don’t recognize. When he nods in invitation, relief flutters through me. I join their group, eagerly dropping into a chair.
“Were you trying to sit with Hawkins?” Henley eyes me with deep amusement.
“Yeah.” I sigh. “And he basically told me to get lost.”
The two girls laugh. “Trust me,” the one with dark hair says, “you’re better off. He’s a total psycho.”
