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And here is the fucking irony—for the first time in years, I try to arrange my face into the most serious yet approachable expression but don’t know how to act.
I stop several feet away from Droga and Callie and look ather. She is his anchor—it took me a while to understand it. This girl shot me this morning, desperate to protect him, and if it wasn’t for a miracle, I could’ve been dead.
There is still hostility in her gaze, but she is not afraid. Callie Mays is different, and I’m starting to respect her.
I shift my eyes to Droga, and his gaze rips my heart into fucking pieces.
“What’s happening?” I ask, trying to sound calm and cold.
There is a little smirk in the corner of his lips when he says, “Is your offer still valid?”
And fuck if my heart doesn’t do a cartwheel.
They want to stay?
It takes all my willpower not to show disbelief.
“Sure,” I hear myself say.
He turns to Callie. “We want to stay, on the Eastside,” she says.
So she is the speaker now—fine.
I turn to make sure Slate brought enough ATVs with him, then turn back to Droga.
“You can take an ATV to Ayana. I’ll tell the guys to take you by boat to the Eastside. Or you can take an ATV across the Divide so you have one just in case.”
I know I feel much more anxious right now than them. They didn’t give in by coming back. This feels like it’s forgiveness from Droga. Or so I hope.
“Crone,” Droga says, and this time, my name coming out of his mouth is not spiteful for a change. “Ty and the other two guys you kept in holding cells—”
“They are back on the Eastside,” I cut in.
You wanted mercy? Here it is, Droga.
I try not to smirk in triumph.
“There is another issue. Bo.”
I nod. “He’s at the Ayana hospital. Stable.”
There’s confusion in Droga’s eyes.
“Since when?” he asks quieter.
“Since the morning after the shooting.”
And it feels like fucking victory. I have to make an effort to hold back a grin.
Yeah, I am not quite the villain you thought I was.
Callie’s lips twitch in a smile as she looks down.
Droga rakes his fingers through his hair. “Can we see him?”
“Sure. Follow me to Ayana. I’ll take you to the hospital ward. Maddy is with him.”
I don’t look but know they just choked in surprise—two Outcasts at Ayana.
