Alex snorted his disdain. He leaned in and lowered his voice. “I’ve got news for you, simpleton. There damn well is.”
Ace’s eyes narrowed to slits. “Get out. I’ll keep her safe myself.”
“You’ll get her killed,” he told him calmly. “And you’ll die with her.”
“Get out!”
“Stop it.” Lena’s voice, tired but strong, carried from the arched hall leading to the rear of the apartment.
Alex swept his gaze over her, checking her small body for injuries. She was whole, but she still wore her dead mother’s dress. Somehow, it made her command more effective. He snapped his mouth shut and bit back the words he’d been about to growl at Ace.
Ace wouldn’t give up. “I’ve had enough of his lies and doubletalk. I want him gone and—”
“I said stop!”
They stared at each other. She didn’t move. She didn’t so much as blink. Ace did, looking away.
“He helped me, Ace. Even when he was hurt, the first thing he did was help me.” She was matter-of-fact, as if she’d been turning the thought over and over until it became clear. “You’re focusing on the wrong part of the story, Ace. I get it. The whole time they tortured me, I blamed him, too. But as soon as he had the opportunity, he’s the one who got me out.” She shrugged. “And if I’d listened to him and come straight here instead of going to Teresa’s….”
She shrugged again, but her focus scattered. It darted away from them, across the room, touching on a chair, a picture, the floor. She lifted her face back to them again with a sigh. The blue-green of her eyes was darker.
“Are you okay?” Alex asked her. He immediately winced. Stupid, stupid question.
Ace stared at him incredulously.
She laughed, the sound a little hollow. She reached both hands up to her face and pressed the heels of her palms against her brow. When she dropped them, she shrugged with her hands. “I am. I guess I really am. Wonder what that says about me.” It was a statement, not a question, as if she’d already decided what it said about her. No doubt she’d had Teresa’s help in coming to whatever conclusion she’d reached.
“It says you’re a survivor.” He looked from Lena to Ace. “So now we have to make sure you survive, no matter how motivated they are, and get you somewhere the Council can’t reach.”
“I’m pretty motivated myself,” she said. “You say you have a place safe from the Council. Are you and your people working against them?”
“We are working for Sparks—”
“Yes, but are you working against the Council? I’ll go with you if I can help destroy them.”
Her soft voice filled with an intensity that took his breath away. The Council had carved a hole deep within Lena Gracey, and she wanted to fill it with vengeance.
Alex nodded at her. He could give her vengeance.
“Lena, no. He just wants to use what you can do.”
“I want this. I want this. So let them use me. It turns out I’m a pretty good weapon.”
She was an exceptional weapon.
“I can get you out,” Alex swore, making the promise to all three of them. “I have a safe house. You get to it at dusk, when the streets are full of people heading home or to night shift. Wait for me there. I can get you out.”
“Dusk is really soon,” Lena said. Her hands picked at bits of the hospital room wall still embedded in the weave of her mother’s dress.
Alex nodded. “Shower. Do you have any clothes here?” At her nod, he continued, “Good. Change. Then you and Ace can go for a walk. Take some food and water. I should be able to come for you tomorrow, but it may not be until late. Once Ace leaves, sit tight and wait.”
“You expect me to just take her somewhere and leave her?”
“I expect you to do what needs to be done in order to assure her safety. You know, like I’ve been doing all along?” He was nonchalant, but the words were meant to dig.
Ace bristled.
“No, Ace, you aren’t leaving me anywhere.” Her voice had gained strength.
“That’s exactly right.”
The man had no idea how dangerous it was to give Alex that look.
“Stop smirking, Ace.” Lena tossed out. “You aren’t leaving me anywhere because you aren’t going. You’ve risked enough. And I can take care of myself, as you well know.”