"I'm used to being surrounded by women," I started. "Now I'm surrounded by men. And watching my back everywhere I go."
"Women can be dangerous too." Mina sat on an armchair, her hands in her lap. She always had an air about her, like a cat ready to use her claws.
I never saw her be anything other than cool and calm, but I had no doubt she could inflict damage before I could blink. Anyone who underestimated her was out of their minds.
"Ain't that the truth?" Daze laughed. She crossed her legs at her knees and leaned back. "There's, what? Six men in this house? But I'd be willing to bet the three most dangerous people in this building are the three of us."
I gave a slight cock of my head. "I don't see myself as dangerous." Not compared to them especially.
"Why not?" Mina asked, scrutinising me without blinking.
"I —" I wanted to shrivel under her gaze, but I managed to keep my back straight.
"You know how to use a gun and a knife?" Daze asked. "You know how to use your brain, and your body. With your medical knowledge, I bet you know more ways to inflict damage than most people. Not necessarily kill them, but incapacitate them."
"I guess so," I said reluctantly. "I mean, I do, but could I actually do it?"
"Of course you could," Mina said bluntly. "If you're up against a wall, or in a corner, you will. You won't even think about it. You'll act." She seemed certain of that.
"I'm scared I'll panic," I said in a small voice.
"Is that what's held you back all these years?" Daze asked. "You're scared to be who you were meant to be because you're worried you're not up to it?"
I pressed my lips together. "I'm not sure this is what I'm meant to be. I just wanted to be normal."
The expression on Daze's face was sympathetic. "I thought I wanted that too, for a long time. I took my daughter and I out of Dusk Bay for years, hoping to put the place behind us."
"What happened?" I asked.
"I came back," she said. "I came back and I realised this is home. This is who I am and who I was meant to be. As soon as I embraced that, I've never looked back."
"I was also…away," Mina said softly. "But this was always my life too. We can deny it all we want, but this is us. Besides, we can't leave the men to run things. They'll make a mess."
I bit back a smile. Did she just accuse Reuben Brantley of incompetence? Judging by the hint of humour in her eyes, this was her idea of a joke. Of course it was; he was anything but incompetent. Only she'd get away with saying anything like that. Anyone else would be dead before the sun rose. Or wishing they were dead.
"Things certainly work out better with us to keep an eye on them," Daze agreed. She cocked her head at me. "What else is holding you back?" She wasn't pulling any punches tonight.
"People keep shooting other people in my vicinity," I said. "It feels like…I don't know, the deeper I get involved, the more the people I care about are put at risk."
"That comes with the territory," Daze said, but not dismissively. "Especially when you're in the position you are right now. Working for us, but having to play nice with the enemy. Getting caught in the middle is inevitable. But you've done well. From what I gather, King and Skinner trust you."
"As much as they trust anyone," I said. I glanced over to the door. "They didn't?—"
"No one saw us come here," Mina said. "We wouldn't risk you like that."
Of course they wouldn't, they still needed me. Like a chef needed their favourite paring knife. Or a racehorse owner needed their best mare.
Daze must have seen my expression and knew what I was thinking. She moved over closer and put a hand over mine.
"This isn't just about what you can do for us, Chelsea. I like you. I always have. I’m ecstatic to have you back in the fold, even if you're not. I'll be just as relieved as you are when this is over and you can get on with things. What Mina meant when she said we wouldn't put you at risk was exactly right. Not just because of your position with the team, but because you're you. Okay?"
I swallowed back a knot of emotion. "Okay."
"Daze is right," Mina said. "You're a valuable part of this organisation. If you wanted to, you could go a long way. You could be as powerful as we are."
"But not more so," Daze said with a laugh.
Mina raised her eyebrows at the other woman. "I thought that was implied."
