Page 23 of Omega Scarred

Hawk nods sympathetically, understanding the hold that love can have on a person. "You gotta talk to her, man. Figure out what's going on in her head."

"I'vebeentalking to her."

"You've been coming onto her," Hawk murmurs. "Not the same as talking."

I shake my head. "What if I don't like what I find?"

Hawk claps me on the shoulder. "Then at least you'll know. And you can move on."

I know he's right, but the thought of losing Jade is almost too much to bear. I can't imagine my life without her in it.

She's only been here for a few months, but it's like she was always supposed to be here.

I can't keep living like this, consumed by jealousy and rage.

I take a deep breath and make a decision. "You're right. I need to talk to her."

Hawk nods in approval. "I'll go check on Fallon--let you know how he is."

I smile faintly, grateful for my friend's support. "Thanks, man."

With Hawk's words echoing in my mind, I head out to find Jade, determined to figure out what's really going on. I think she would be on kitchen rotation, so I head that way and glance around. There's no sign of her.

Weird.

Next, I go to the deck. Everyone is lined up to get their supplies and assignments, and there's still no Jade.

Now I'm worried.

I guess she could have left--hitched a ride with someone and taken a boat to go meet up with her friend in the borderlands. My heart drops at the prospect that she left without saying goodbye, and it makes me want to fucking scream or hit something.

I go back to the kitchens. I'm going to find her. I'm going to fucking find her, and then I'm going to scream at her for making me worry.

The lady in charge of the kitchens puts her hands on her hips as I come through once again, peering at me through narrowed eyes. I make a bee-line toward her, stalking around like a monster, and I square off with her with a sigh.

"Where the hell is Jade?" I ask.

"Winslow?" she says. "Haven't seen her all day...in fact, it's been a couple days. You sure she's still here?"

I growl and turn to stride back out onto the deck, looking into the sunset like I might see a boat headed out to sea. Yeah...she's not here.

Unless...

Who else haven't I seen in a couple days?

That would be Fallon.

I fix my gaze on Fallon's watchtower at the aft of the Raft, cocking my head like I'll be able to see inside. The blinds are shut. I can see Hawk walking back toward me, though he's just a silhouette.

I start toward the watchtower.

I'm practically jogging by the time I meet Hawk part of the way, close enough that I can see the ripples of heat off the top of the watchtower. Hawk's eyes widen when I get close--and I know right then that Fallon and Jade are inside, that they've been there for days, that he...

"Rafe, cool it," Hawk starts, but I grab him and shove him out of the way with a snarl. He's a big guy--he could fuck me up if he wanted to. But he lets me pass, staggering back. "Rafe, please don't--"

I whip around, baring my teeth at him. "Do what? Kill him? I won't...I won't kill him. But I'll make him suffer."

I turn back around, my fists clenched.

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