26. Chapter 26 #3
Caige almost died because of her. He’d be in the hospital for months.
She selfishly lied to the entire team to get what she needed.
Deceived and betrayed them. She wasn’t any different from Matsuda and what he had done to her.
She’d never forgive Matsuda, and she was sure none of the others would forgive her actions as well.
The pain in her chest returned, an ache so raw and bleeding that tears were running down her face before she could stop them.
The urge to sprint from the room overcame her, but she wouldn’t run from what she’d done. She came here for a reason.
She grabbed the little Maneki Neko figurine from her pocket and placed it next to the whale lamp. The red cat stared up at her, paw raised. Get well, Caige.
“What are you doing here?” Caige croaked, eyes open.
Kate stilled and wiped the tears from her cheeks. “Trying to say I’m sorry.”
He scoffed and fidgeted. “It’s not needed.”
It’s…not needed? What did he mean by that?
“Did she get away okay?” he asked, his piercing blue eyes boring into hers.
“Naomi?” She couldn’t believe he’d be worried about the woman who almost killed him. “Yeah, from what I can tell. Matsuda has no idea we took her body.”
He sighed. “Good.”
“Why do you care?”
“Matsuda needs to be stopped.”
“I didn’t mean for you to get in the crosshairs.”
He was silent, so she turned to leave.
“Sit with me for a moment?” he asked, nudging his chin toward the couch beside her.
“I don’t want them to see me, and I have a date with the law.”
Caige lifted his eyebrows as if to say he wouldn’t ask again.
She sat.
“So, you’re giving up on Raz already?” he asked.
Her breath caught. “He doesn’t want me, an untrustworthy criminal. I was just fooling myself into thinking I could be something else.”
“But aren’t you something else? When I look at you, I don’t see a criminal.
I see someone who’s making up for past wrongs by whatever means necessary.
It’s not your fault you trusted the wrong person.
The lengths you went to and the fact that you got her out of that situation show just how worthy you are of Raz.
For as long as I’ve known him, he’s never given someone as much control over our operations as he gave you, and he’s never been so carefree. It’s been refreshing to see.”
A ball of emotion lodged in the back of her throat and unfurled into sadness, acceptance, and pride that stung in her eyes. This was a man who had stood by Raz for ages, and for him to say that—it meant the world to her and shook some of the darkness shadowing her heart.
“Even if that’s true…there’s nothing I can do,” she said.
“Did he tell you why he’s a Rogue?”
Kate nodded.
“When he couldn’t save his clan, it wrecked him. He protects us like family. So when we go on a mission, he takes the failures hard on himself.”
“And now, because of me, you—“
“Stop,” Caige said. “We all make our own choices. I could have let her fall to her death.”
“Why didn’t you?”
“Up in the plane, emotions clouded her judgment. Death and revenge against you weren’t the answer for her. Matsuda is vulnerable since he won’t know Midnight has her body until the next doctor’s rotation. But if she reincarnated, he’d learn she was free while she grew up again.”
His words held a hint of warmth. He’d risked his life so Naomi could have the upper hand.
Pragmatically, it was the best move for them, but there was a depth to his words that had her questioning his motives.
At least Naomi didn’t jump in front of that car or try to hurt Kate with it, so something must have gotten to her.
“I’m still breathing, so Raz can get the fuck over it,” he said. “Don’t give up.”
Her chest swelled. She didn’t know if she could win him back, but she had to try. “Thank you for the push.”
As Caige adjusted himself, he winced in pain. I can’t let you suffer. Her jaw locked, and she touched his bare fingertips.
Energy flowed and sparked from her wings.
She pulled Caige through time as far as she could to bring his body back to a moment when it was more whole, just as she did her Cohearts, Bonnie and Clyde, to make them live longer.
White pain stabbed down her spine. All her feathers littered the floor.
She bowed over Caige’s hand—with coldness seeping from his flesh.
“What th-the hell d-did-d you d-do?” Caige asked, shivering.
“A miracle. Not enough, but you’ll be healed more.” She straightened with a wince.
He nodded as if in thanks.
She grinned, but her face fell as she remembered the other feathers that had saved him. “Not that it changes anything, but Naomi saved you with a miracle that day.”
“I had a feeling she’d done something.” He leaned back into the pillow. “At least I know I made the right decision.”
There was hope for Naomi. Not that Kate doubted her, but she didn’t know what kind of woman Naomi had become when Matsuda forced her to kill people.
A clatter sounded, then thudding followed up the steps.
She dove out the window but peeked back inside. “I wasn’t here.”