Page 19 of Cross’s Reckoning

"I'm fine."

Nobody in the room believes her, and she turns and walks back toward the hallway. I start after her, but Kane says my name.

"Cross." I stop.

"I can leave," I say.

Kane looks at me. "No."

"You don't owe me a war."

"This isn't about owing you anything."

"He wants me."

"He wants me to hand you over because he said so."

"Difference doesn't matter much when Perdition's shooting at your gates."

"It matters to me."

I look toward the hallway where Lola disappeared. "If I ride out before midnight, he loses the excuse."

Kane shakes his head. "No, he learns threats work."

"He might take it and go home."

"You actually believe that?"

No. That's the problem. I don't.

Kane leans one hip against the table. "Cyrus has been looking for a reason to prove I'm weak since I took the gavel. Yesterday wasn't enough. Chains wasn't enough. If I hand you over tonight, tomorrow it'll be something else."

"I'm not Kingdom Come though."

"Didn't say you were." That lands harder than if he had.

Kane continues, "But you came to my gate without enemy colors, kept your hands where my men could see them and told me the truth. I'm not sending you out to be murdered because Cyrus throws a tantrum."

"Your men might disagree."

"Then they can tell me. This isn't Perdition."

I glance toward Judge and he shrugs. "He's right."

Kane pushes away from the table. "I'm not promising you a patch, Cross. I'm not promising you anything beyond tonight. But while you're under my roof, Cyrus doesn't decide what happens to you."

There isn't much to say to that. "Midnight?" I ask.

Kane nods. "We prepare for him to mean it."

I find Lola in her room and the door is open. She's sitting on the edge of the bed with both feet planted on the floor, staring at nothing. I knock against the frame anyway.

"If you're about to tell me he's an asshole, save it."

"I wasn't."

"If you're going to tell me you were right about him, definitely save it."