Chapter 4
Running Blood and Blood Runners
We pull up to Seminole, and I’m still firmly attached to him like a needed crutch since his blood has graced my lips several times. He keeps his arm wrapped around me as he pulls me out of the car, and I see Hale running his hand through his hair while speaking to Clay. They’re far away in a dark corner, and they’re whispering too low for even me to hear - though the conversation looks heated. They haven’t even noticed I’m back which means I’ll have to fucking tell them so I can check in to the ordered gathering. Fuck.
“I need to go find Luke and fight out what’s going on. Are you going to be okay without me for a minute?” he asks softly.
“Luke?” I muse.
“Yeah, he’s our full blood gossip fly trap. I need to find out who’s where and how many are able to come. It’s sort of my job now,” he grouses.
“I’ll be fine. Just don’t take too long,” I exasperate.
He smirks before kissing me on top of the head. I smile lightly, and then I take a deep breath before walking toward Clay and Hale. Of all the fucking people to be our damn advocate, it has to be Hale. I knew I should have made time to vote.
I approach without making a sound so as not to prematurely disturb their conversation, and my bare feet allow me to accomplish such a feat with perfect stealth. I realize I’ve been too quiet and inconspicuous when they still don’t notice me, and now I’m within range.
“I told you that you would push her right back into his arms if you said something that fucking stupid,” Clay scolds.
“I had to say something. If she wants to be with him, then what-the-hell-ever,” Hale growls.
“She’ll never forgive you for telling her that. She’ll end up marrying him, and he’s not going to do something that fucking ignorant. Is that what you want? You have to go get her as soon as she gets here… before she falls back in love with him.”
“You know I can’t do that. You made me choose, and I chose. You know it’s the right choice,” Hale snarls.
Really? Clay thinks Hale could have me back after he fucked Alex? Is my tattoo of a crazy girl instead of a sparrow?
“You aren’t giving her enough credit,” Clay exasperates.
No. You’re not giving me enough credit, Clay. I do have some self respect. I love Hale, but he did one fucking spectacular job of smashing my heart.
“I drove to Berimond to find her. I was going to spill everything, and then I heard her laughing from all the way downstairs in the hotel lobby. I’m not taking that away from her when I can’t offer her the same fucking thing right now. You know I’m right.”
He drove to Berimond? Why? Spill what? Were there more girls? I need a fucking drink.
“Where’s Brazen going to be staying?” Clay sighs.
“There’s a captain’s suite just a few doors down. Araya sort of joined our places,” Hale mumbles.
“I know. I saw the sheet Grayson hung up to separate the two spaces.”
“I have to fix that immediately. This is hard enough without knowing there’s just a sheet stopping me from getting to her,” Hale painfully releases, but it just doesn’t make any sense.
He could have had me. I begged him to take me, and he told me he can’t love. He told me he fucked Alex. How is it he seems so tortured now? He’s so fucked up.
“She’ll probably be staying with Brazen now, so you won’t have that to worry about. I’m starting to fear you’ve fucked your chances completely.”
“She won’t stay with him. She has the kids to take care of, and she’s-”
“Here,” Clay interrupts when he catches a glimpse of me stepping out from behind the side of the building which has shielded me from sight.
Hale swallows hard, and the pain pours from his eyes as he holds back unexplainable tears. It’s heartbreaking to see him right now, and my stomach flips and flops incredulously.
“I am. I was just checking in per protocol during a mandated assembly. Now that I have, I’m going to go check on Grayson and Angelica. Are they upset?”
Hale takes a breath, and his fists clench at his side.
“No. They’re fine,” he murmurs softly, and I fidget awkwardly as his eyes scour my ragged appearance.
