Page 58 of Allegiant

They exchange a look, and something passes between them. Almost as if they know one another. But I’m too worn out to process it.

“I was worried you were dead,” I tell Larry, who just scoffs.

“Will take more to kill me than you’d expect.”

I nod, my eyes filling once more. “I’m glad. I don’t want you to die. I was so worried.”

“Yeah, I was too,” he replies as Samson sits down beside me, a glass of water in his hand. He’s intent on keeping me hydrated, to flush the toxins from my body.

“Drink this,” he murmurs, lifting me up slightly so I’m draped across his lap.

“So, what happened last night?” Larry asks as the water slides down my throat. When I glance at him, I realize he’s not asking me. He’s asking Samson.

“He had a hard night.”

“I need more than that,” Larry replies, his tone curt and unlike what I usually hear from him. He sounds…almost competent.

“You’re out of the business. You don’t need to know.”

Larry’s lips purse, his hand curling on the arm of the chair, and I find myself studying him intently.

What the fuck is going on? What business is Samson talking about?

“I would like to know,” Larry finally grinds out, his cadence oddly formal.

“Why?” Samson asks.

“Because.” Larry’s gaze turns toward me, and I see something cold and hard in those depths. Maybe Samson’s right. Maybe he’s not the sad, lonely old man I’ve made him out to be. “He’s a…” He lets out a soft breath and turns his gaze away. “Friend.”

My heart flutters in my chest, my eyes widening. “You’ve never called me that before, Larry.”

“Well, you are. I guess. Didn’t want another friend, but here we are.”

“Aw, I knew you liked me.” I let out the first laugh since the anniversary started, then feel guilty for feeling happy when he’s gone. My emotions swing from one side of the pendulum to the other, my bottom lip wobbling.

Larry clocks it and so does Samson.

“Tell me, Buckingham. I want to know,” Larry bites out. “I need to know what to look out for. Or who.”

I sniffle loudly as Samson hands me a tissue. I blow my nose noisily, a honk that almost makes me miss what they’re saying. Sounds almost like they’re talking in code.

I try to catch up, but Samson’s finished speaking already. I wonder if I’m hallucinating.

Larry sits back in his chair and cocks his head. “Let me help.”

Samson purses his lips. “You left for a reason.”

“That reason is dead.”

Samson considers it for a moment and then nods his head. “I’ll have to speak to my brothers. I’ll be in touch.”

Larry seems satisfied with that, and my mind is still reeling from what just happened, or what didn’t. I have no clue what’s going on.

I feel like I’m losing my mind.

Samson smooths a hand over my head, causing me to lean against him, seeking more reassurance. My eyelids flutter slightly, Adam’s smiling face at the forefront of my mind.

I blink them open, trying to hold it together.