and I felt in my bones if he got away, he wouldn’t come back. “I haven’t…” He ducked his head. “It’s been a long time since…”
“Oh, I didn’t mean that.” I licked the wound shaped like my teeth. “You’re bleeding.”
Midas touched his fingers to the side of his throat then examined the red stain.
“Oops?”
The crinkle of his forehead deepened, and then it relaxed. “You marked me.”
“Yup.” I didn’t ease my grip, I tightened it. “What are you going to do about it?”
A gleam brightened his eyes, and he lowered his head, teeth on display, ready for payback.
Squirming beneath him, I could hardly wait for my turn.
Three punishing knocks rang through the small room as a visitor pounded on the door.
“Ignore them,” I whispered, aware whoever was out there could hear. “Maybe they’ll go away.”
For a split second, Midas gave every sign of agreeing with me, no matter how fruitless the endeavor.
“We found the others,” a miserably familiar voice called through the wood. “Can we talk?”
“I’ll be right there,” Midas yelled back, then kissed my forehead. “Stay put.”
Threat or promise, I couldn’t tell, but I was tempted enough to do as he asked. For now.
Wedging his body in the gap, Midas opened the door. “How are they?”
“They’re in ICU,” Ford growled. “The drug they snorted collapsed their lungs.”
“Let me get dressed.” Midas took a step inside the cabin. “I’ll go with you to see their families.”
“I have something to say.” Ford pushed open the door, his gaze landing on me. “To both of you.”
Just as before, Midas allowed Ford to run roughshod over him. Over us. And my stomach cramped.
The certainty Midas was about to resume his game of hot Hadley potato with Ford made me ill.
“You’re my friend,” Midas said, squaring off with him, “but you need to get out.”
A slow inhale glided into a long exhale, and Ford glanced between us. Rather than leave, he spoke.
“I came to let you both know I’ll be transferring to the Buckhead pack for the next six months.” He let a shrug roll through his shoulders. “I wanted to do it in person.” He shoved his hands deep into his pockets. “Your momma told me what to expect when I got out here, but I’m still having trouble.”
Ford didn’t specify if it was me trouble or Martian Roach trouble, but I could guess which bothered him.
“It’s not you.” He stared right at me, as if he had plucked the thought out of my head. “It’s me.”
The line was designed for a laugh, and I gave him one, but it hurt. “How are you feeling?”
“Not right.” He lifted his tee, revealing a mass of scabbing. “I wake up scratching. There’s this itch under my skin I can’t get to, and it’s always there.” He yanked it down again. “I can ignore it during the day, but I can’t help what I do when I sleep.”
Ford was an easygoing guy who didn’t let much rile him. Right after Natisha healed him, he came to me. He wanted a goodbye kiss, which I gave him on the cheek, and we parted on what I considered amicable terms.
In the process of avoiding him at the Faraday so as not to rub Midas’s new living situation in his face, I had failed my friend. A healthy dose of ego and remorse had prevented me from seeing that until now.
The offer turned my blood to ice in my veins, but I made it. “Do you need Natisha?”
“I’m healed in here.” He pointed to the center of his chest. “It’s here that’s giving me fits.” He knocked on his forehead. “I have a few cousins in Buckhead. I’m going to room with them. See if a change of scenery helps.”
“Call if you need anything.” Midas stuck out his hand and shook Ford’s. “We’re here for you.”
“I know.” He yanked Midas into a manful hug then turned him loose. “I appreciate it.”
Uncertain if an embrace from me would be welcome, I kept my spot on the bed. “We’ll miss you.”
“Maybe somewhere down the line we can Skype a movie night.” He didn’t approach me, and I wasn’t certain if it was for his sake or Midas’s that he avoided me. “Just…stay safe.”
“I’ll do my best,” I promised him. “You too.”
Without warning, Midas slugged Ford, and Ford hit the floor on his butt.
“What the actual hell?” I leapt to my feet. “Midas, what is wrong with you?”
Ford waved me off, so yeah, he didn’t want to touch me. Or he wanted to