If Malcolm knows his nephew has been kidnapped again, he hasn’t made it public.
“Any word from the other safehouses?”
“Usual overnight check-ins. All clear.”
I nod. “Good.”
Sebastian scratches his beard, watching me over the rim of his tablet, and I can feel his eyes on me as I sip my coffee. Before he can say whatever it is that’s on his mind, I set my mug down and meet his gaze.
“I know taking the Bellrose kid was a risk. I appreciate you all sticking your necks out for me on this one.”
“Hey,” he says, setting his tablet on the counter. “Ash meant a lot to me too. Theyallmeant a lot to me.”
I nod again.
We had nearly forty Ascended on our side. They’re all gone now besides the two of us.
“We’ll get the older Bellrose one day too.”
I let out a breath and say, “I hope you’re right.”
Malcolm was the one Ireallywanted locked up in the basement waiting for me to torture him, but he’s always been damn near impossible to get near. After the kidnapping, he used it as an excuse to increase security around the Institute and himself. Funny how he failed to do the same for his nephew.
Cason is the best consolation prize I could get my hands on.
My hands on…
I touched him last night for the first time in seven years,and even the shower I had this morning hasn’t washed away the feeling of it. I pick up my coffee again as an excuse to peer down at my hand. I swear I can still feel his pulse against my palm.
Sebastian presses on the screen of his tablet that’s still lying on the counter, and the camera feed from Cason’s room pops up. He’s still lying on the ground in the same spot I left him.
“You must’ve done a real number on him.”
“I think it was mostly the shock of everything,” I tell him. “He found out his uncle betrayed him within the same hour he also learned that near-death experiences can cause superhuman abilities. I’m surprised he didn’t pass out sooner, to be honest. That said, don’t underestimate him. He mightappearto be unconscious, but appearances can be deceiving.”
“Speaking from experience, huh?”
Before the memories from thatotherbasement can surface, I shove them back into their hole.
“I’ll just be glad when this is all over.”
Whatovermeans, I’m not sure yet.
“Want me to move him somewhere more secure?” Sebastian asks.
“No.” The word comes out too fast. “He stays where he is.”
I don’t fucking want him anywhere else buthere.
Except now Sebastian is staring at me again with that same look as before, like he can see right through those damn stitches.
“You know if you need me for anything, I’m here,” he says, though there’s a cautious edge to it.
“You act like you’ve known me for five years, Baz.”
He laughs because he has.
“I know when some jobs are harder than others,” he says. “If you need me to take care of him—”
