Page 176 of Override

Bullet's eyes narrow. "Skee."

"Technically, she was already in the vehicle."

"That is not better!"

"I didn't say it was."

Wheels loses the battle entirely. His laughter fills the room.

Badger turns his head slowly. "Wheels."

"I'm sorry." He holds up both hands, still laughing. "I'm sorry. This is serious." He looks at Keaton. "Really fucking funny. But serious."

Badger's expression hardens. "Outside."

The single word is directed at Keaton. My stomach drops. Keaton doesn't move immediately. Neither do I. Badger notices.

His gaze shifts to me, and for the first time since he walked into the house, the disappointment in his expression eases. "I'm not sending you back." I stare at him. He must see how much those words affect me because his voice softens. "No one here is going to make you go anywhere."

My throat tightens. Beside me, Keaton releases a breath so quietly I almost miss it. Badger doesn't. His eyes move back to him. "Now, Skee."

Wheels winces. "Ooh."

Rachel smacks his arm.

"What?" he whispers loudly. "Daddy's mad."

Badger turns.

Wheels immediately points toward the kitchen. "Get out of the way. Right. Great idea."

For the first time since they arrived, I look around at all of them. At Bullet glaring at everyone for invading his house. At Wheels apparently incapable of taking anything seriously for longer than thirty seconds. At Rachel, who is still watching Keaton with that softness I haven't decided how I feel about. At Badger, who somehow seems to be in charge of all of them.

Then I look at the man beside me. Keaton. Taibhse. Skee. Apparently.

I still have absolutely no idea what I've gotten myself into. But as Wheels starts arguing with Bullet about whether this place has anything to eat and Rachel tells them both to shut up, something strange happens.

For the first time in months, I'm standing in a room full of noise. Real noise. Laughter and arguing and people interrupting each other. No one is lowering their voice because Ronan might hear. No one is watching the doorway. No one is waiting for permission to speak. And despite the fear still sitting heavily in my chest, I feel something inside me loosen. Just a little.

Then Keaton starts toward the door with Badger, and my hand reaches for his before I can stop it. My fingers close around his. He freezes. So does everyone else. I look down at our joined hands.

Then slowly up at him. "I..."

I don't know what I'm asking. Don't leave me? Come back? Don't let them change their minds?

Keaton seems to understand anyway. His fingers close around mine. "I'm coming back."

The certainty in his voice settles something inside me. I nod and force myself to release him.

He takes two steps toward the door before Wheels leans toward me and stage-whispers, "He's absolutely getting yelled at."

Keaton doesn't even turn around. "I can hear you."

"I know."

And for reasons I can't begin to explain, I smile.

"WAIT!" Wheels's shout is so loud that everyone in the room freezes. Badger stops halfway through the door. Rachel spins around. Even Bullet looks up from whatever he's doing in the kitchen. I jump.