Page 101 of Dark Endures

“We contacted all but five. Two of them ran away from violent homes. The other three are so traumatized they can’t remember their phone numbers.” She takes a donut out of the piles.

The bakery doesn’t make those here. They get ordered and delivered fresh every morning at four.

“I can help with that. Just let me know which ones they are, and I’ll run them through the missing persons list. It shouldn’t take more than a few hours.” Enzo takes an everything cookie and passes the bowl down.

“So, Maddox, what was that look about on the stairs?” Jacko passes the bowl without taking anything.

“What look?” Dyce reaches over Axe’s shoulder and takes the cream puff Canyon doubtlessly got just for her.

“Maddox looked into space for a second. Like he was thinking about a woman. Like Pit is staring at Brie right this second.”

Everyone turns to Pit, but me.

“What? I love my wife and don’t care if the world knows it. Are you seeing someone without telling us?”

I don’t move a muscle. Half of them have an idea, especially Ace. But if I look at Canyon, they’ll give him the third degree until he spills the beans.

Which wouldn’t take long.

“He totally is.” Pit stares in awe. “You fell in love without telling us. That means you finally got over Fea.”

Fea’s head spins around, like this is news to her. “What?”

Ace whaps Pit upside the head as he sets a plate in front of Brie. “You stupid? Fea is sitting right there.”

Pit rubs his head. “What, like everyone didn’t know Maddox was in love with Fea. He’s had a crush on her since the day she showed up. Half of this happened because of her.”

I want to groan and punch Pit in the face.

“Really?” Fea turns to me with a whisper.

There’s no point in lying now. “You looked so scared and determined to keep Daria safe. I couldn’t let something happen to you.”

“Not that part. The other part. The one where you fell in love with someone else.”

Wait. Does that mean Fea knew the entire time? If I were still a teenager, that would have destroyed me.

“The gig is up. Just admit it. You know Fea will weasel it out of you eventually.” Canyon really needs a good shove.

“Yes.”

“EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!” Fea squeals and hugs me. “That’s wonderful.”

Fea isn’t a hugger.

We all know that. No one touches Fea. We ensure, when we can, that no one else even brushes up against her.

What do I do? Hug her back? Just let her hug me?

Fea sits back down. “So, tell us everything.”

“Yes, tell us everything.” Dyce grins at me.

“It’s all very new—”

Ace snorts.

“You know something I don’t?” Dyce turns her gaze to Ace, shooting daggers at him.

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