Page 123 of Deadfall

Griffin smiled grimly and nodded. “Home.”

58

EMERSYN

Griffin’s words had triggered me. He’d sounded so much like Riggs in that moment—controlling, dominating, and leaving nothing up for discussion. I’d told myself I was never going to let someone treat me like that again. But then, Griffin apologized. I couldn’t wrap my mind around it. I wanted to think that Griffin was just like Riggs because then it made him easier to hate—and I wanted to hate him so badly. Instead, something far less safe pounded away at my chest demanding to be let in, and that was terrifying. It was almost like Griffin and Seven trusted me.

My throat closed at the thought that these two men I barely knew trusted me to lead, to make decisions, to go after what I wanted—no, needed—to accomplish. I didn’t know what to do with that. I’d never had that.

“Comms check,” Seven said.

His voice whispered in my ear, and it was like my entire nervous system relaxed. I’d missed having someone in my ear. It made me feel less alone.

“Loud and clear,” I answered.

The cold grip of the steel in my hand helped steady me further. I slipped the knife into the pocket of the sweatshirt and took a deep breath. There was a knock on the door.

“Open up, Griffin!”

It was Brooks.

“We’re a comms call away,” Seven said quietly.

I nodded, and Griffin stared until Brooks called again. His jaw tightened and he went and yanked open the door. Brooks’ fist was raised, about to pound on the wood again. His face broke into a sneer.

“Hope I wasn’t interrupting something,” he said. “Actually, that’s not true, I hope I was.”

“Fuck off, Brooks,” Griffin snarled.

“Let’s go, Hurricane,” Brooks ordered.

I strode past Griffin and out into the hall. If I looked at either of them again, I’d have issues going with Brooks. As it was, it was incredibly hard to walk across the threshold of a room that had held nothing but safety for the last twelve hours. I kept my back to the door, but as Brooks grabbed my arm, I could have sworn I heard a growl. I didn’t dare look. Brooks pulled me down the hallway until we rounded the corner, and I heard the door slam shut.

“Good thing we’re in your ear, eh gorgeous?” Seven’s voice over comms startled me so badly I tripped over my own feet, and nearly ate shit, as Brooks pulled me down a small flight of stairs.

“Walk, Hurricane, fuck,” Brooks grumbled.

“Although, I’ve disabled G’s and told him he’s not allowed to speak until he calms down,” Seven continued dryly. “You should hear some of the shit coming out of his mouth, over.”

I fought the smile that threatened.

“So, where is that big oaf taking you?” Seven asked.

“Where are we going?” I asked Brooks.

“Mahoney’s personal quarters.”

The silence over comms seemed deafening until finally Seven came back online.

“Maybe comms wasn’t such a good idea,” Seven sighed. “I just had to stop G from storming after you.”

“I’ll be fine,” I muttered.

“Emersyn!” I winced at the volume.

“Fuck—” Seven said.

I heard the sounds of a scuffle.