Page 18 of The Hero Within
And it had scared her, because she knew he had that bullet in his pocket.
Just in case.
"If we were in other circumstances," CJ murmured, rubbing her hand, "I'd never ask you to do this."
Eden lifted her eyes to his.
"But here's the thing: Colton owes you a debt and he knows it. I know nothing can take away the pain of what happened, but why not use him back? Ifelthim do something to those warg dogs. I don't know what it was, but he cowed them somehow. Forced them to show him their bellies—and these dogs were bred to rip people like me apart. He's not just a warg trying to leash his inner beast, Edie, he controls it. He's a bounty hunter. And he knows the Divide." A hint of something dark flashed through CJ's blue eyes. "I've been in your surgery enough times to know if you cut through the emotion of the situation and start considering your options in a logical manner, sometimes the answer you need is not the one you want."
He was throwing her own words back in her face?
"I think Colton can get us safely across the Divide," he said, pressing on determinedly. "In fact, I think he's the only chance we have of crossing it. And if you say no, Eden, then this ends right here. Because as much as I care for Lily I know she'd never forgive me for leading you into danger. So, if your final word on this is no, then we turn around now and head back to Haven. Luc said there are other options to save her."
Other options? Turn Lily into a warg and give her an amulet? "She'llloseher father."
CJ's expression shuttered. "She doesn't have to."
And another flush of hot-cold swept through Eden. Because there was another warg who could hand his amulet over to Lily, if they couldn't stop the plague.
This time, she caughthiswrist when he moved to withdraw it. "No."
CJ looked up from beneath dark lashes and for a moment, it wasn't a man she was looking at, but a boy. "She loves her father. Luc's everything to her. And if I can't save her...."
"No." CJ's words finally reached her where nothing else would. Eden stood, and swallowed down the thick press of conflict in her throat. This wasn't just about Lily. Her townspeople were dying too.
They needed a cure.
To get the cure they needed to cross the Rim.
To do so, they needed a guide.
It was as simple as that.
"Stay here," she said, wiping her face dry and fixing her hair, putting herself back together as best she knew how. "You're right. Johnny Colton owes me one. And that bastard better be prepared to pay."
Chapter Five
He smelledher before he saw her.
Mierda.
Johnny looked up as Eden swung herself into his booth, a shock of stillness running through him. She looked cold and prepped for battle, her hair knotted back into a no-nonsense braid.
He hadn't expected to see her again.
He might not have made his peace with that thought—a strange sense of unfulfillment twisted inside him still—but he'd been certain of it. Eden McClain was a chapter of his life he needed to close.
Instead, she slammed back into it with narrowed eyes, her fingers tense as she gripped the table. The black tank she was wearing contrasted sharply with her golden skin... but he wasnotgoing to think about her skin, tanned or otherwise.
That way dragons lay.
"What the fuck do you want?" Johnny growled out, still off-balance. Facing her twisted him into little knots he'd long thought he conquered.Guilt. "I thought you were leaving?"
He was the last person she'd be interested in spending time with. Which meant she wasn't here out of the goodness of her heart.
An itch of premonition trailed cold fingers down his spine.
"Mind your language. And you're right," Eden said. "The Divide's a dangerous place for CJ and me."
