“Do you still like Vex?”
Tessa’s face goes from smiling to frowning, and eventually, she shrugs.“I don’t know.I thought he didn’t like me, but he said things when they had me in one of their outbuildings.It makes me think he was keeping me at bay because of what he is rather than not liking me.”Tessa sighs.“I think it was easier when I thought he didn’t like me.”
“Instead of knowing the truth about him?”
“Yes.What am I supposed to do with the truth?I can’t tell anyone but you, and he hasn’t been into town since it happened.”
“Do you want to talk to him?”
“I have questions.”
“Don’t we all?”
Sitting together, we sip our drinks, enjoying the close company of knowing secrets that no one else in town knows.
When I finally leave the café, the chill of the outside air feels less biting than it did before.As I step onto the sidewalk, I glance up at Prophet.He’s smiling at me through the closed window of the truck, his eyes crinkling at the corners as if he knows something I don’t.Then, he leans across the seat and opens the passenger door.
“You look better,” he says, his voice warm with a hint of approval.
As I climb into the truck and glance at him, I offer him a slight shrug.“I’m thinking it’s all your heavenly talents that knew I needed to talk to someone?”
Prophet chuckles, the sound light and easy.“It doesn’t work like that.But I knew Tessa had been struggling, and a problem shared is—”
“A problem solved?”I finish for him, giving him a playful punch in the arm.It’s lighter than I expected, a small moment of normalcy, and it feels good.Grinning at him, I shake my head.“You don’t seriously think this is all over, do you?”
Prophet sucks in a breath.“I wish.But no, I don’t.”His gaze softens, his eyes lingering on me for a moment longer than usual.“You’ll get there.”
“You know something I don’t?”
“I know you’re not a quitter.”
Prophet pulls up infront of my house, but he doesn’t turn off the engine.The steady rumble of the truck fills the silence between us.
“Aren’t you coming in?”I ask.
He shakes his head.“No.You’ve got a visitor.”
Frowning, I glance toward the porch, and my stomach does a quick flip when I see Blade standing there, his back straight, his posture tense but determined.
“Give him a chance.He’s not doing well without you.”
I stare at Prophet for a long moment, uncertainty flooding my chest.“Is he safe?”
Prophet gives me a wry smile, his eyes gleaming with amusement.“As church.”
Arching an eyebrow, I say, “I’ve never understood that saying.”
He shrugs, still wearing that easy smile.“It means yes.The man would die for you.Did you hear the gunfire when he changed?”Prophet’s voice drops, and I can tell he’s serious now.“Blade took a bullet for you.From the moment he met you, all he’s ever wanted is to protect you.”
The weight of Prophet’s words hits me hard, and my heart races in my chest.My mouth falls open as I recall the distant sound of the gunshot.The memory of the chaos, the danger...“Oh my God,” I whisper, my voice barely audible.
Prophet’s eyes soften, but he doesn’t say anything.Instead, he gives me a slight nod, encouraging me to go to Blade.
Locking eyes with Blade from the truck, I feel the pull, a magnetic force that draws me toward him.My feet move of their own accord, carrying me toward the porch.As soon as I’m within five feet of him, Blade closes the distance, his arms wrapping around me, engulfing me in the safety of his embrace.
“I’m so sorry,” I murmur into his chest.“In all the confusion, I forgot about the gun discharging.”
Pushing back from him, my hands tremble as I reach for the hem of his shirt, lifting it to check his chest.My eyes search for any sign of injury, but there’s nothing, no sign of a bullet wound, no scar.
