Chapter Thirty-Four
White Ravens
Gage
After Gage’s team had gotten him out of his gear, he’d showered off the stench of battle, thrown on a jogging suit, and rushed back to the infirmary.
He sat on the edge of Scar’s bed, waiting for the results from his scans.
Scar was propped against the pillows with his shoulder freshly set and wrapped.
He had minor bruises and swelling on his face, the kind that would fade in a few hours because of their enhancements but still made something raw and protective coil in Gage’s stomach.
Scar also had defensive scrapes across his knuckles and the backs of his hands, marks that said he’d tried.
The room was quiet.
Jo stood near the door, radiating anger, and Meridian was a darker shape beside her.
Roz lingered well after their field support had cleared out.
Almost thirty minutes later, the doctor finished his exam.
“I know your pain receptors are elevated, but anti-inflammatories can still help,” Dr. Rossi said.
Scar didn’t even consider it before saying, “No.”
“You’re not proving anything.” Jo sighed.
“I’m not trying to. I just don’t like drugs.”
“Okay then. Your arm is set. Shoulder is stable. Bruising is superficial. Cuts are clean. No concussion signs. If you wake up with nausea, dizziness, or vision changes, tell the staff immediately.” Dr. Rossi concluded.
Scar lifted his good hand in a lazy salute. “You got it, Doc.”
“Why are you choosing to be in pain?” Gage asked.
After the doctor walked away, Scar gripped him behind the back of his neck and whispered, “Come closer.”
Gage leaned down until Scar’s mouth was near his, close enough that his breath mixed with his own.
Scar’s voice was rough, intimate, and shameless. “If you’re that concerned, you can kiss it later and make it better.”
The words made heat spread under Gage’s skin before he could tell his body to behave.
He smiled and touched Scar’s cheek until Jo’s voice snapped him out of his euphoria.
“Where did you go, Scar?”
Scar didn’t flinch or pull away from his touch.
“I didn’t know we were prisoners,” he said. “I thought we could come and go as we pleased.”
Jo came closer, her patience sounding close to the edge. “Cut the shit. You know the rules. Yes, you can come and go, but there are protocols. Your shadow team was created for a reason—to spot the exact kind of threats that almost got you killed tonight.”
Scar was quiet.
“Your handler is supposed to know your whereabouts. For your safety. For the anonymity of this organization.”
Gage didn’t butt in, knowing she was right, but he kept his hand on Scar’s cheek.
On the outskirts of Gage’s hearing, Meridian still lurked, all intimidating presence and no sound.
“So, where did you feel you had to sneak off to, Scar? You said it wasn’t somewhere that would expose us. Then fine, tell me,” she demanded.
Scar let out a frustrated breath. “Do I really have to—.”
“Scar,” Meridian warned.
“I went to Gage’s church on G Street,” he muttered, as if the confession cost him a bit of pride.
Silence fell hard.
He stilled his hand on Scar’s cheek. For a second, his brain refused the information because it didn’t fit any mold he’d ever formed for Scar.
Jo seemed speechless.
Even Dr. Rossi paused whatever he’d been inputting into the computer.
“Church,” Roz repeated. “On a Wednesday night?”
Gage knew his church’s weekly schedule. “You went to Bible study?”
Scar flung his other arm over his eyes, taking the ostrich approach. “Yes.”
“And you didn’t burst into flames when you walked inside a church?” Roz barked an insensitive laugh.
“Fuck you,” Scar snapped.
Roz grunted when Gage backhanded him in his stomach, but it didn’t stop his teasing.
“I’m just saying, the ceiling didn’t collapse, the reverend didn’t try to douse you with holy water, or—”
Gage turned to his friend, and he didn’t know what his face revealed, but it made Roz shut up.
“The Bible is hard to understand, okay?” Scar gritted.
Something in Gage warmed and took over.
Jo’s exhale was long. Some of the fury seemed to bleed out of her, replaced by something more understanding.
“Next time you leave,” she said in a clipped voice, “you follow protocol.”
“Yeah, okay.”
Meridian came closer to Scar’s bedside, and Gage had an urge to back away, but he stayed beside his partner.
“Meridian,” Scar said cautiously.
“I’m doubling your training this week.”
Scar bolted upright too fast, grunting in pain. “What? Why!”
“Because five men got the drop on you on a public street,” Meridian said flatly. “Did I really need to explain that?”
Roz made a sound of agreement. “Not much of a badass assassin if you ask me.”
“But no one did ask you,” Gage snapped. “So get out.”
Meridian continued, voice low and absolute, “Your partner fought six men and was never touched.”
Gage felt a sense of pride that Meridian hadn’t added on, “and he’s blind.” He hadn’t framed it as some kind of miracle. Just capability.
“I was prepared,” Gage said. “I wasn’t led into a trap.”
“Is that the excuse you wanna give me, Scar?” Meridian sounded as if he’d leaned in, or maybe it was just his voice going darker.
“No,” Scar said through clenched teeth.
“Good. Because you know I don’t accept fuckin’ excuses. They’re what weak men use when they can’t accept defeat.” Meridian growled. “They didn’t outnumber you, those fuckin’ amateurs outsmarted you. That’s what unprepared does.”
“Fuck.” Scar hissed.
Meridian turned slightly, his coat shifting and pushing the scent of cold leather and sweet Sobranie smoke up Gage’s nose.
“So tomorrow,” he finished, “you’ll train until your body remembers you don’t get caught.”
Meridian left them alone in the room, powerless to argue or object.
“I’ll train with you, okay?” Gage whispered against Scar’s cheek. “No more doing stuff alone. If you wanna go to Bible study, we’ll go together.”
Scar caressed the back of his hand down his cheek. “You really came for me.”
“Always.”