Page 58 of Kage

Stone threw me a look then immediately checked the gauges. “You got any cash on you? You owe me a spackle and paint job.”

I snickered. “I’m good for it.”

“Yeah, maybe.” Stone shifted in his seat.

I was fucking grateful he’d been the one I’d called. Anyone else and we’d likely be dead by now.

A few seconds later, he motioned to the back. “She’s beautiful.”

“I hadn’t noticed.” I purposely glanced out the side window, staring down at the ocean water.

“Yeah, I call bullshit. Something you were always good at.”

This time, I shook my head. Stone had always enjoyed pissing me off, but he wasn’t the only man capable of doing so. “She’s an extraction unit.”

“You’re still using that shit?” He laughed and scratched the ugly beard he’d grown since I’d last seen him.

“That’s the way I need to think about her.” I’d been reminding myself of that time and time again. Maybe at some point, I’d start to believe it.

A few awkward minutes passed, something we’d never had before.

“Cool dog. Surprised you brought him along.”

Exhaling, I glanced back into the small plane, half snorting seeing how Juliette’s body was curled around Tank’s. I’d thought she was terrified of dogs. Funny how things changed. “He’s a good boy. Trained for search and rescue.”

“By you?”

“Fuck, no. A Marine who died.”

“Well, fuck, man,” Stone huffed. “Heavy shit. Good for you.”

I knew he was continuously darting looks at me. Everyone who knew me had glued kid gloves onto their hands for months when dealing with me.

“Headed to New York?” he asked.

“Change in plans. She’s coming with me.”

“Oh, wow. Your choice?” Now he was teasing me.

I gave him my middle finger. “A favor to Gray.”

He nodded several times. “Then good for you.”

Another awkward silence.

“I know what you’re thinking.” I had no idea why I was attempting to justify what I was doing with her at all. It was none of his or anyone else’s goddamn business what I did with my life.

“Okay, brainiac. What am I thinking?”

“That I like being around this girl. Nothing could be further from the truth.”

“Could have fooled me.”

“What the fuck do you know?”

Stone made some adjustments, the slow turn meaning we were nearing the first destination point. “Enough. I ain’t no rocket scientist, but in two minutes, I saw the way you two were looking at each other. It’s funny how relationships spring up when danger is involved.”

“This isn’t a relationship!” Growling, I realized too late he’d baited me.

---