Page 62 of Own

“No.” At Bones’ admission, I put my hand on the door. “But I’ll take that hit if it keeps her breathing.”

I pushed it inwards. They both turned to look at me. Legend’s expression gentled, but I held up a hand as he started toward me. Honestly, if he touched me right now, I might go up in flames.

We needed to discuss this and I had to keep my emotions in check as much as possible. So I studied Bones. His cool gray eyes were marred by dark shadows under them. Had he slept? The stubble on his face was practically a beard now. His hair was disheveled.

He looked like hell.

But I’ll take the hit if it keeps her breathing.

As much as I studied him, he returned the favor.What does he see when he looks at me like that?

“You’re making a call.” That was what he’d said.

He didn’t flinch. Nor did he look away. “We did.”

From the corner of my eye, I caught Legend’s faint jerk. Still not onboard with him, but not denying it either.

“So youallmade it without me.” All seemed to be missing two people.

Now Bones leaned back. Face grim. Solid. “We’re trying to keep you alive.”

“And I love you for it.”

I laid it out there, for what it was, a fact.

He blinked. Once. Shock disturbed the unreadable mask he wore.

“But if you think that means you get to decide my story without me…” I shook my head slowly. “I’m not going back in a box.”

“We’re not putting you in a box.” He rose, his expression still cool but his eyes were fierce.

“No?” I didn’t bother to disguise my own doubt. “Then let me in the room where the decisions are made.”

When his eyes flicked to Legend, I glanced at him as well. He stood, arms folded and chin down. It was like he was physically restraining himself. Not threatening, just not interfering. He and Bones just stared at each other. Having some silent conversation I couldn’t understand?

Fine.

“You want to shield me. I get that. Lunchbox wants to hold me. Alphabet wants to fix me. Voodoo wants to steady me.” To heal me. Theyallwanted mesafe.

“Butnoneof you get toownme.”

That snared Bones’ attention and he focused on me again. “You think I don’t know that?”

“I think you forgot it this morning.” I blew out a breath, the wild tremor of my heart slowed from a run to a jog. “I’m not walking away from a plan. I’m not discounting that we need to make one—that you need to make one.” I moved over to the table until I stood just a foot from him. “Note, I am being reasonable…”

A flash of humor sparked in his eyes like dry heat lightning. There and then gone again.

“I’m not throwing a fit—or the coffee cup. Or the cutting board and the knives over there.”

Legend snorted a laugh behind me.

“What I am doing is what youaskedme to do. I’m choosing to trust you.” Now I took a risk and I put my hand on his arm. “So trust me, too.”

For a moment, quiet invaded the kitchen so intensely that a distant car horn outside seemed loud. Bones stared into my eyes. Searching. Measuring.

God what does he see?

The brief glimpses of personality he let me have left me craving more.

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