Page 67 of The Mech Who Loved Me
They sentCharlie ahead to the Nighthawks guild, as he could move faster than they could, then set out for Major Winthrop's shop. Ava wanted to lock down the scene before anyone else couldcontaminateit.
Ava kept her manner purely professional when they arrived, checking the locks on the shop doors and waiting for the Nighthawks to arrive to set up a perimeter before she allowed herself to examine the shop. She didn't like their chances of finding anything. Whoever cleaned up after the bodies yesterday had done ameticulousjob.
The Nighthawks finally arrived, and as predicted, there wasn't much evidence left within the major's emporium. Ava worked mechanically, her heart feeling a little heavy in her chest, though her peripheral senses were desperately aware ofKincaid.
"Are you going to speak to me?" Kincaid finally demanded, when the silence clearly grew too muchforhim.
"I don't particularly have muchtosay."
"Ava."
She turned, brushing a curl off herface. "Yes?"
Kincaid stared down at her with an uneasy expression. "I'm sorry. You were right. It's a more complicated situation than I imagined. I wouldn't tell anyone aboutBlackVein."
Ava swallowed. "But do you see how that felt for me to hear those things fromyourlips?"
Hands cupped her cheeks and he lifted her chin until their eyes met. The dark scowl on his face was back. "I'm an utter shite, Ava. All those things I said about blue bloods. I didn't mean to hurt you. All I could see in the moment was everything I've suffered over the years, everything I've seen destroy the peopleIlove—"
"It's all right," she said. "I know you have your own demons, and you couldn't haveknown."
"But I shouldn't have taken them out on you." Kincaid sighed. "And I know everything you went through; you didn't choose this. But you've made the best you could of the situation, and a part of me is in awe of that. I'msorry."
"Apologyaccepted."
He leaned forward and kissed her forehead, and it was a strange moment, for she didn'tknowwhy.
"Truce?" she asked, curling her hands around hiswrists.
They stood there like that for a long moment. "Truce," Kincaid repliedgruffly.
"Then let us finish cataloguing Major Winthrop's belongings, so we can send anything we think might be evidence on to theguild."
For while she might have accepted his apology, her heart still felt a little battered andbruised.
* * *
He'd apologized.They'd called a truce, but something hot gnawed at Kincaid's gut as they finally finished up, and sent Charlie back to Malloryn's while the Nighthawksdispersed.
Ava locked up the Emporium, her head bowed and her manner still quiet. He hated seeing her like this. She was guarding herself, and he knew he was toblameand—
"Penny for your thoughts?" he asked, knowing she'd recognize thephrase.
"No thoughts. I'm justtired."
"Andhurt."
A flash of green glanced in his direction, and he realized he'd hit the nail on the head. Ava looked down. "I just keep thinking, where is thisgoing?"
Hopefully someplace private, for the look in her eyes scared him. That look was asking questions, and doubting the answers. "Nothing'schanged."
"I know," she whispered, and then looked up guiltily. "But I like you.Ido."
"I like you too. Verymuchso."
And yet he felt like he'd said the wrong thing, for she looked down, nibbling on herbottomlip.
If they weren't standing in the middle of the street then he might have taken steps to chase away thatdoubt.
