I jerked back. If he’d punched me, it would have hurt less.
You’re such an idiot! Of course he doesn’t care what happens to you.My chest felt heavy, pressure crushing my breastbone.No one has ever cared. Why did you think he’d be any different?
Mortified, I spun away.
Hope taunts you and you fall for it every time,I scolded myself. Blinded by tears, I fumbled for the door knob.You are worth nothing because youarenothing. Learn the lesson already!
“Mira?”
Finally getting the wretched door open, I fled.
#
Kerry
The elevator door opened and I went to step out only for Mira to barge into me, nearly knocking both of us down.
“Whoa!” I steadied myself with a hand to the wall. “What’s going on?”
Her eyes were wild and wet and she was whimpering softly, but didn’t seem to know it.
What in the world happened? I was gone ten minutes!
“Thank you for saving me, Kerry.” Her voice was high. “That’s twice I owe you. If you ever need something I can provide, I’m happy to return the favor.”
She tried to brush past me into the elevator, and I saw she had her backpack, the one we’d bought her after we’d found her. Confused but getting a bad feeling in my gut, I blocked her path and the elevator door pinged as it tried to close, sensed us, and reopened. I put my hand on it to hold it still.
“You really leaving us?” I was careful to keep my voice neutral.
“Yeah. Good luck with the mission and all. I know you’ll get Gemma back. Iknowit.”
“What’s wrong, Boots?”
Scowling, I watched her close her eyes, clench her fingers into tight fists, and draw in a shuddering breath.
This woman had spent more than two years as a lesser devil’s thrall and survived it with her steel backbone intact. She didn’t take any grief, not even from me, and she had fire in her soul. She had so many different kinds of strength; what could panic her enough to send her running?
“Mira,” I spoke quietly, like I did when I was helping Jax care for baby animals, “tell me what happened and I’ll help you fix it.”
“Some things are too broken to fix. You were kind enough to get me out when you came for Gigi, and I won’t ever forget it, but it’s time for me to go.”
“I came for you, too,” I corrected her. “You’re my friend, too. And I don’t want you to go.”
Her gold eyes flew open and I winced at what I saw in them.
“Thank you. Especially when I know it was my fault you lost Gemma again.”
“What?No, that wasn’t your fault. If there was blame, it’s mine and mine alone.” I shook my head. “Look, when I had to enthrall you back at the pens, it musta stirred up your coerciontaint. That’s probably some of what’s making you feel bad. Come back to the apartment.”
“I can’t. I need to let go of things that aren’t meant for me.”
“What things aren’t meant for you?”
“Please, Kerry, let me leave. I don’t want to drag anyone else down into the bad luck cesspool called my life. Besides,hedoesn’t care—”
Her mouth slammed shut and she turned her head.
He? Who is she— Oh. Rome. Of course.Fury brought a blue glitter to my skin and I had to take some deep breaths.I warned him! What an idiot!
