Lib Novel Page 63
“Good idea,” Byron mutters, and I watch as he sends the file out to everyone, just like I suggested. It might be the first time he’s ever agreed with me when we’ve been working on something like this.
“What?” he asks, when I’m still looking at him. Bigby pulls off the paved road, and Byron’s car skids around on the gravel as we near the lake. “Oh, you want to look? This is a—”
His not saying he loves me back is still hanging around us, like a film over my eyes, but it doesn’t matter. I lean over, grab his face, and kissing him. Whatever happens when we get to Veronica, I want to know that I kissed him. That, in our last moments, he was smiling at me.
“Liv,” he says, breathless, “I—”
“Let’s go!” Percy says as the Firebird comes to a halt, practically doing a rolling jump from the car.
“Shit,” Byron says, his eyes flicking to mine before he undoes his seatbelt and puts his hand on the handle.
Chapter 27 – Byron
Just as I’m about to pull the handle and get out of the car, Olivia’s hand lands on my arm.
“I’ll stay here,” she says, and when I turn to look at her, fear has blown her face wide open. I scrunch my eyebrows together, looking at her, trying to figure out where this sudden change in attitude has come from.
“Olivia,” I say, wanting to say it back to her—wanting to tell her I love her, too, but knowing now isn’t the right time. “It’s not safe to stay here by yourself. We’re better in numbers.”
“I know I just—I don’t think I can.”
“What do you mean?”
“I’m not ready. For the field, I mean.”
“Olivia, you’re ready. You’ve been on several missions—even solo missions.”
“Yeah, and I was almost kidnapped. You’re the only reason I’m alive right now.”
“That’s—” I start, but a tear slips down her cheek, and she shakes her head, her pink hair flying around. Now that the car is off, it’s starting to cool quickly, our breath fogging up the inside of the glass.
“You said it yourself,” she says, her voice shaking, “I didn’t get enough training. I tricked Aris into thinking I was ready.”
Fuck.
“Olivia,” I say, heart ratcheting up in speed. “We have to go, so I can’t say everything I want to, but—you’re the smartest, bravest, most badass woman I’ve ever met in my life. Solo missions are tough. And I was watching you because I can’t take my eyes off you, okay? We’ll stay together the whole time. Come on.”
She stares at me for another moment, and Percy knocks on the window impatiently.
“Okay,” she says, nodding and scrubbing at her face. “Okay.”
We get out of the car, and I pat my belt to make sure my throwing knives are all present and accounted for. My heart skips a beat again, then Olivia takes my hand, squeezing it for a moment.
“Down this road,” Percy says, his voice low, “stay close to the trees.”
“Here,” Bigby says, passing vials to all of us. “Drink this. Scent cover.”
I down the stuff, grimacing at the taste.
“Damn, would it kill Rosa to make it bubblegum?”
“Or grape,” Percy mutters, but his soul isn’t in it. I imagine he won’t be able to make a joke until he has Veronica back in his arms again.
We make our way up the road slowly, keeping to the tree line, until a dock comes into view.
“Where’s the boat?” Olivia whispers, and Percy glances down at her tablet, his face going pale again.
“Looks like it’s in the middle of the lake,” he says, taking a deep breath, his hands shaking as he hands the tablet back to her. “What are we going to do?”