his waist. He was covered in dust and dirt and it would transfer onto her clean dress, but she didn’t care. She squeezed him tightly, so tight that ruining her own dress would be inevitable.
“Are you all right?” he asked her, draping his arms over her shoulders.
He remained still, allowing her to hold him for as long as she needed to.
She held him for a long time—so long his calf muscle began to ache. Again, he asked her if she was all right and, after hesitating, she finally lifted her head to look up at him. She didn’t make eye contact. All she did was stare at his lips. He tightened his jaw at the sight of her swimming, violet eyes.
“I’m fine. I’m—”
Her fingers twitched against his back and her voice was anything but stable. Dread swirled in his stomach and tightened his muscles. Something happened while he was gone. That much he knew.
“You’re shaking,” he pointed out, trying hard to quell the frustration bubbling in his blood.
It was a hard habit to rectify, but he tried every day. Patience, he told himself, but of course it was easier said than done. All he wanted to do was shake her until she opened up.
Nine pulled away and hugged herself. She glanced sideways at the looming Sario manor and shuddered. “Can we go somewhere? Can we talk?”
He frowned and took her tiny elbow in his hand. “Of course. Come inside. I’ll shower and then we—”
Shrugging from his grip, Nine dug her heels in and refused to climb the first step. Something was seriously wrong. Tears welled in her eyes as she lifted her stare to his. “I’ll be in my room. Come and get me when you’re ready.”
She whirled on her heel and jogged down the path.
“Nine?” he called after her, but she didn’t turn around.
What happened while he was gone? Was it the rebellion? Was it Vince? His heart sank. Did she not want to be married to him anymore? Was that it? Did she wake up and decide saying I do and consummating the marriage at the same time wasn’t the romantic event she wanted? Or perhaps news of what he did at the mine was the straw that broke the camel’s back?
Bending low, Kade scooped up his backpack and trotted up the steps and into Sario manor. He was tired—the tiredest he’d ever been—but Nine wanted to talk so sleep would have to wait.
∞ Nine ∞
Oliver leans against the wall, his leg bent at the knee as I scan over the map of Freeport. I’ve poured over this map since the sun rose this morning, plotting the second stage of the rebellion. I needed something to keep me busy until Kade came back and now that he’s here…I wish I had more time. I don’t know how to tell him what happened…I don’t know where to begin. I have this irrational fear that Kade will blame me for what happened. He’ll tell me I should have stayed in bed…and he’s right. I should have.
“It’s unrealistic to assume we’ll have weapons for everybody. We’re at one hundred and seventy-four recruits already. We can’t possibly smuggle that many guns. It’s too obvious.”
I shake my head. “No, it isn’t. I’ve devised the perfect plan.”
There’s a knock at the door and my heart drops into my intestines. I know it’s Kade. He’s here for the talk I’ve been dreading for hours. In the off chance it isn’t him, I fold the map and put it on my lap as Oliver pushes off the wall and crosses the room. Sure enough, when Oliver unlocks the door and tugs it open, I’m met with Kaden’s black eyes.
He is devastatingly handsome in his casual black tee and loose slacks. I don’t think I’ve seen him so relaxed, so…tired. Kade glances between Oliver and me before entering without a greeting. Closing the door, Oliver rolls his eyes.
Kade strolls across the room, grazing his palm over whatever objects are in his reach.
The couch. A lamp. The bar.
He doesn’t drop his hand until he’s at my desk. With a tight jaw, he sits on the edge and folds his arms over his thick chest. He’s clean, much cleaner than he was when I met him outside the Sario manor a little over an hour ago. The smells of soap and whiskey blow over me, turning my stomach. He smells like Vince did…exactly like Vince did.
“Your plan?” Oliver prompts, coming back to his wall. “Let’s hear it.”
Right. I clear