Page 32 of Chaos Destiny
She smiled, and I couldn’t describe the relief I felt at seeing that smile. Ari pulling through gave me just enough hope that we would eventually run into Julien. Knowing him, I wouldn’t be surprised if he ran into us. We’d left a note in Virginia saying that we were headed south. With any luck, he would show up, I could end the husband charade, and then I’d be free to let down my guard with Tayler—a little. Beauty was one thing, but I didn’t know much about her.
Ari swatted in my direction with a limp hand. “Look, I understand why we have to do that, put on that whole ‘husband and wife’ act, but I’m not kissing you. I’d rather go get bit.”
I laughed.“Fuck off.I won’t go easy on you just because you were on the verge of death. You know that, right?”
She continued to snuggle Thandie, her laughter matching mine until the fleeting moment of joy gave way to concern.
“But she’ll be okay, right?” she asked. “You’ll be okay, right, sweet pea? Mommy missed you so much. She dreamed about you. In my dreams, you were crawling all over the place.”
“She hasn’t crawled yet, but she’s still rolling about,” I said. “By the way, are you hungry?”
“Not really. The other woman...Carolyn, I think she said her name was...brought me some water when I woke up.”
“You need to eat something. Don’t forget all the other times we didn’t have the option.”
Some of her playfulness disappeared.
She held Thandie tighter, as tight as she could, and slowly rocked, her eyes unfocused as she stared at the far wall. I knew what was on her mind. It had gone through my mind severaltimes since the collapse. The difference was that I was thinking about more than Julien. I was thinking about how worse things would get. Technically, this was still the beginning.
“What about the rest of the guys?” she asked, as if reading my thoughts.
“Only a freak accident could take them out,” I reminded her. “And not even that could take out Giorgio.”
She huffed a laugh.
“But, for now, we’re staying in one place,” I added. “It’s safe here, and we don’t have the luxury of thinking ahead more than one day at a time. That doesn’t mean we’re giving up trying to find the kid.”
“Stop calling my husband ‘the kid,’ especially when he has a kid now.”
“No, don’t think I will.”
Her smile returned. “And what about the doctor?”
“What about her?”
“Hulk…want…smash.”
I rolled my eyes.
“Gage, I know you. You think she’s aright fine, sheila.”
“Said no Aussie ever.”
She snorted.
“And nothing can come of that,” I said, hoping my body was paying attention. “Me and you, we have our...façade, and she’s somehow attached to the head guy here. It’s not clear how, or where, they’re attached, but there’s something.”
“You can steal her from him.”
“And then do what with her? I’m married, remember? With a kid.”
“If you’re discreet, I don’t mind if you cheat.”
Laughing again, I eased up off the bed. “Let me go find her. I think you’re slipping back into delirium.”
I left the room and went searching for Tayler, and it was like I’d unloaded an elephant from my shoulders. Ari wasn’t exactly out of the woods, but Tayler had made it so she could see the edge of the forest.
I found the physician in question standing in the middle of a supply closet, her back partially facing me, looking through an assortment of vials. From where I stood, she didn’t look as if she was reading the labels; she looked as if she needed to keep her hands and mind occupied.
