Chapter 20 #4
“I didn’t know what to do, so I started screamin’ for you, but Dune grabbed my arm and… snarled at me to keep my promise and not tell you about my powers. And then you came, but you looked at me like… like I’d done it…”
My voice trailed off as I struggled to control myself. Sam stepped closer and wrapped an arm around my shoulders.
“When you asked me what I’d done… I knew… I knew there was nothin’ I could say. Not without breakin’ my promise to Dune. You were lookin’ at me like you didn’t even know me. An’ I just… just panicked and ran.”
Wolf closed his eyes, and his throat bobbed as he swallowed. When he opened his eyes again, they looked wet.
“Thank you for tellin’ me,” he said, monotone, before turning and striding back to the clinic.
Lee hesitated briefly, then followed. Sam and I watched them go, standing together under the tree. I took a deep, shaky breath and tried to calm down.
“Good job,” Sam said, his voice serious. He smiled when I glanced at him, but he looked sad. “See, you’re gettin’ better at talkin’ already.”
I scoffed and looked away.
“I’m sorry I didn’t tell you about Clarity,” Sam continued.
“I wanted to… so many times. We all did, but she kept making us promise we wouldn’t, and Mac said unless it was an emergency, we needed to respect her wishes.
” He paused. “It’s probably good you found out, though, ’cause I think Raven was about a day away from exploding. ”
“Is that why she’s been so mad?” I asked, still trying to blink away tears.
“Yeah,” he huffed, “I thought she was gonna kill Mac when he told us they were bein’ sent out.”
That made sense.
“Well, she was also pissed about leaving you here with your brother’s whole crew.”
I looked at him in surprise.
“I know she doesn’t always show it, but Raven might be the most loyal person I’ve ever met. Once you’re in, you’re in. And unless you do something despicable like Lana, you’ll be in with her forever.”
A group of chickens moved slowly down the path, clucking softly.
“Wolf thinks I’m givin’ people powers,” I whispered.
His eyes lit up in a way that made me nervous. “I want one!”
“Sam, if I am , I’m not doing it consciously!” I snapped.
“Well, then tell your subconscious to get on it!”
I rolled my eyes and turned toward the hold. “When do they get back?”
“Tomorrow afternoon or evening.”
I took a deep breath. “Ok.”
“Uh, have you told your brother about Lana yet?”
I furrowed my brow. “No?”
“Well, seeing as they met her and now they know she lied to them…they might not be, uh, thrilled.”
Oh right.
“Also, Jax is pretty sure you hate his guts now.”
My eyes widened. “What?”
“He thinks you’re furious about Clarity.”
I frowned. “I am furious about Clarity, but I don’t hate Jax.”
“Well, you might want to tell him that ’cause the poor kid’s a mess.”
I heaved a sigh and started trudging back up to the clinic with Sam following.
Wolf was sitting in one of the wooden chairs, his gaze fixed on the floor.
Scar stood beside him with her hand on his shoulder.
Lee had pulled another chair up to Wolf, leaning close and speaking in a low voice.
Sable and Kai stood against the wall together, Sable’s head resting on Kai’s shoulder.
Tuck was sitting in another chair, oiling one of his guns.
They all went quiet and looked at me when I came in, and I had to fight the urge to shudder at the weight of so many eyes.
The clinic was not big enough for this many people.
I stopped without warning in the middle of the room, Sam bumping into me. “Mac and his crew are bringing Lana back here. She’s really sick. I told them to bring her back so I can heal her.”
The shocked silence didn’t last long.
“You what?” Lee was the first to speak, and his voice was dangerous.
“Ember—” Wolf growled.
“I’m not askin’ for your permission,” I interrupted. “Just tellin’ you as a… a courtesy.” With that, I turned and retreated up the ladder, ignoring the angry questions being shouted at me.
Clarity, Sky, and Jax were all still huddled on my mattress. Jax clambered to his feet and approached me, his eyes wide and miserable.
“Bones, I’m so sorry,” he mumbled.
“It’s alright, Jax.” I softened my voice. “I’m not mad at you, I swear.”
His eyes widened even further, and he glanced at Sam and then back at me. His dark blue eyes were full of tears. “So you’re not gonna kick me out of the crew?”
I blinked, taken aback. “What? No!”
“Jax, you’re never gonna get kicked out, bud,” Sam said, and from his gentle but exasperated tone, this was not the first time they’d had this conversation.
“But Lana?—”
“Lana tried to hurt her. It’s not the same.” Sam interrupted.
“But my brothers?—”
“Jax.” Sam stepped into his space and grabbed the teenager by the shoulders, his face serious. “You are not responsible for what your brothers did.”
Jax’s lip trembled, and I glanced between the two of them, bewildered.
Sam noticed and pulled Jax into a hug, mouthing the word “later” to me over his head.
I nodded and turned to where Clarity and Sky were still huddled on my mattress, taking a deep breath.
It wasn’t hard to understand why Mac would’ve insisted they respect Clarity’s wishes—most of her life had been dictated by someone else.
“I’m sorry for bein’ an asshole,” I said, shifting slightly on my feet.
“I’m sorry for keepin’ secrets,” Clarity whispered.
“Just… please, if you don’t feel good, come see me. Please.” My voice grew even more hoarse.
Clarity’s eyes overflowed again. I moved forward until I could crouch before her, offering my hands like Mac always did. She gripped them immediately.
“Trey’s death was not your fault, Clare.” My voice wobbled dangerously. “Don’t put that on yourself.”
“Then you can’t put it on yourself, either,” Clarity said through the tears, squeezing my hands.
I smiled, but it felt stiff. “Tell me what you’ve been seeing.”