Total pages in book: 218
Estimated words: 209489 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 1047(@200wpm)___ 838(@250wpm)___ 698(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 209489 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 1047(@200wpm)___ 838(@250wpm)___ 698(@300wpm)
“I didn’t want to do this anymore. They made me take a break to think about it,” he told me, his voice level like it was no big deal.
But that was a fucking lie because I could feel his power rising from his skin, from him.
“I was just about to go on it… I was on my last duty… when I met you. I haven’t had time to think about it, and they want an answer,” he explained.
Well, that was a lot more information than I’d expected.
But he wasn’t done, and his power kept rising, pulsing like the Godzilla movies I’d watched, right before he laid radiation waste on another monster’s ass. “I know there was nothing else I could have done.” He tipped his face up toward the ceiling, and I watched him take a deep, deep breath that made his chest rise and suddenly fall. A totally unnecessary breath. “I can be replaced. I’m going to be eventually. I was never supposed to be one of the faces anyway.”
Who was going to replace him? How many more Atraxians like him were there? By “one of the faces” did he mean the Trinity?
“I’m tired of helping people who don’t deserve it, and I know it isn’t up to me to decide who that is. One life is just as important as another. Everyone is someone’s son or daughter.” He shook his head. “For every thousand people we save, we’re blamed for the deaths of another ten thousand.” Those purple eyes flicked toward me. “Nothing I do will ever be enough, so is there a point?”
I had to try and keep my shock to a minimum and focus on what he was saying. “I don’t blame you for feeling that way,” I told him, thinking as fast as I could. “That’s a lot to live with, and I don’t think I could deal with it either. The scrutiny. The pressure. I don’t even like counting change in line at the grocery store.”
Did that get me part of a smile?
“But the inspectors and everyone who looked into that accident said there was nothing that could have been done. You said it. You were already saving other people. You got there as fast as you could. Those people are hurt inside and just want someone to blame, and they’re stupid for putting it on you instead of the guy who is behind bars for actually starting it.” I wrinkled the plastic bag in my hand. “You already know they’re dumb and misguided. Anyone with any common sense does.”
Alex watched me.
“But it wouldn’t hurt to think about it. About your decision. I get it. It’s like you said, doing the right thing isn’t easy, and people who think it is haven’t been in that position before. Maybe it isn’t their fault either. Some people have all the luck.”
It was his turn to be suspicious from the sudden face he made. “Why are you so nice to me now when you wouldn’t look me in the eye a few minutes ago?”
I gave him a side-look. “You get on my nerves, don’t get me wrong, but in a way… I don’t know. I feel kind of a kinship to you. We both didn’t ask for certain parts of our lives, and we’re just doing our best.” I shrugged. “Some battles we have to fight by ourselves, but maybe not all of them, even if it’s just a little, itty-bitty thing someone can help with. Something little is still something.”
I could tell he was thinking about what I’d said.
“Last question. Who is Alana?”
“My sister.”
She had a name. Oh shit. I was going to need to give that some time to sink in.
Leaning back against the side of the bed, I ate another Cheeto and let him take one too. “Now that we’ve got that settled, can I go back to sleep? I slept like shit last night, and I still don’t feel great. The floor sucks.”
His answer was to stand and hold out the hand he hadn’t eaten Cheetos with. I took it and let him pull me up. I rolled up the bag, set it on the dresser, then pulled the comforter and top sheet back and turned to him.
But he wasn’t there.
He was already on the other side of the bed.
Taking off his pants.
When he caught me, he raised an eyebrow and stepped out of them. He was wearing boxer briefs; I didn’t bother trying to be discreet about checking him out. He had great thighs. Great everything. I was pretty sure I’d memorized his eight-pack.
“You’re still sick, and I want to make sure you actually sleep in the bed,” he explained as he slid between the sheets.
It was my turn to raise my eyebrow at him.
He sighed deeply as he settled into the bed, pulling the sheets up to his chest.