“And the Reaper?” I asked.
“He’s fine.”
I paused. “And you?”
“I’m fi—”
“Oh, for fuck’s sake,” Barrett erupted, walking back into the office. “Your little hero here pulled some of our guys out of the way of an explosive that sent a metal barrier hurtling into him, pinning him between the barrier and the tunnel wall as they swarmed in, causing several broken ribs and internal bleeding. If Kane and Bri hadn’t been there—”
Hal had stopped rubbing my thigh as he glared at Barrett.
“No one asked for your input,” Hal barked.
“Hal, you do her no justice keeping her in the dark,” Barrett protested, and gratitude surged in my chest.
“I can decide that,” Hal said.
“I think it’s the wrong call.”
“Hal, tell me,” I said quietly.
“No.” Hal gently gripped my thigh. “I can’t tell you, Emeline. Not now. The less you know, the better. If they question you, you won’t be able to answer them. I will not let them take another thing I care for.” My heart swelled as my stomach dropped.Care for.
Barrett stood by the door, his mouth a thin line, but his eyes held a sad understanding. He didn’t push Hal.
“Hal, I told the Starlings I’d help them. Ineedto help.” I didn’t know how I would get through being around Collin and the Elite otherwise. How I’d be able to live with myself.
“That was before the Reaper deemed you off-limits,” he said.
“Fucking birds,” Barrett mumbled at the same time.
“Can’t you just change the Reaper’s mind?” I asked.
“I’m not willing to consider it,” Hal told me, and I looked at him, hard.
Before I could push further, Barrett turned to Hal. “We should go. We can’t stay.”
Hal hung his head, breathing more heavily than normal. I ran a hand through his hair, unsure if it was appropriate or the right thing to do. When Hal didn’t react, I did it again, lightly scraping my nails on his skin. A low groan escaped him. I glanced over to see Barrett pointedly staring out the doorway. Hal pushed the chair back, sucking in a deep breath. His knuckles were white as he gripped the edge of my desk to stand. I ducked under his shoulder to help, and he leaned into me as he panted, his pain filling the room. My hands flew up to his arm and chest, unsure where to touch him without exacerbating his pain. He buried his head in my neck as his breathing settled, and before I knew it, we were embracing. His usually steady heartbeat was replaced by a furious pounding against my cheek.
Guilt washed over me. He shouldn’t have come. I heard footsteps as Barrett made his way toward us. There was no cunning or mischievous gleam in his eyes as he approached, just worry.
“We need to get back, Hal,” Barrett said quietly. Hal didn’t move.
“I’ll come back soon,” Hal promised me, pulling away.
“Just get better first,” I whispered.
“You’re not wearing your lens,” Hal stated quietly. Barrett stepped closer to Hal, as if he were ready to catch him at any moment. How much was Hal downplaying his injuries? “Why not?”
“I haven’t seen anyone from the Elite or Illum since that dinner.”
Hal released a breath, from pain or relief that I hadn’t been with Collin, I didn’t know.
“I used to see it as my chance at life,” I said. “Now . . . now I don’t.”
I looked up to find them both watching me. Shock radiated from Barrett. I couldn’t breathe around what swirled in those starburst eyes—something completely foreign to me.
Barrett made to help. Hal tried to shrug him off. Barrett growled, “There’s no one to impress here. Just take my damn help, you stubborn ass.”
