Page 45 of Specter Bred

Hayes sighed dramatically before blurting out, "I think maybe he's trying to drive you out because he can't stand the idea of losing you."

The room fell silent.

I stared at him.

He stared back.

Neither of us moved.

Then my eyes widened.

And I started laughing.

Not a chuckle.

Not a snort.

Full-blown hysterical laughter.

I laughed so hard I nearly dropped the bar.

"That," I gasped, wiping a tear from my eye, "is the dumbest fucking thing you've ever said."

Hayes's expression didn't change.

Not even a little.

Which somehow made it funnier.

"You just told me Graves is secretly worried about losing me?!"

"I'm serious."

That only made me laugh harder.

"Boy Scout, have you suffered a head injury?"

"I'm serious, Maeve."

"The man barely tolerates my existence."

"I'm serious!"

I pointed at him.

"Stop saying that."

His face remained completely deadpan.

"Think about it," Hayes said. "The man has issues…"

I barked out another laugh.

"That's the most accurate thing you've said all day."

"Look at it this way," he said as he sat up straighter. "Graves lost his entire unit, Maeve. Not one guy. Not two. All of them."

My smile faded slightly.