Page 14 of Consumed By Fire
“Why do people keep saying that to me? I’m deadly fucking serious. It’s possible. You have to admit that. We need to be extra vigilant. We need answers more than anything else.”
Shadow pinches the bridge of her nose for a few beats, and then she takes in a couple of deep breaths. “You’re right. I wish to God it was different, but you are right. You need to tread carefully, though. You need to try to get her to talk.” She shrugs. “Get her to trust you, to open up. It wouldn’t hurt you to befriend her.”
I snort. “That’s not going to fucking happen.”
“You said you would do whatever it took. I’m telling you as a woman that you need to win her over. You get more bees with honey than with vinegar.”
“I don’t give a shit about bees.”
She widens her eyes. “It’s a saying, Octane.”
“I know that. I don’t like stupid sayings.”
“It means that you might get the answers you want if you ask nicely. If you try to get on her good side instead of threatening to take her child from her.”
“I know what the saying means and…” I swipe a hand over my face and suck in a deep breath. “You might be right,” I mutter.
“Might be right? I am right. Hear me and do as I say,” she tells me, her eyes blazing.
“Okay, fine.” I nod a few times. “I will try to be nice.”
Shadow laughs.
“What’s so funny?”
“I’m not sure you have it in you.”
“I can be nice!” I growl.
She rolls her eyes. “If you say so.”
“I can!” I snarl.
“It’s something I would give money to see. You being nice.” She laughs harder, like it’s the biggest damned joke she’s heard all year.
“You’re on,” I tell her as I stand. “Watch this space.” I smile. “I will be so fucking nice you won’t recognize me.”
She clutches her chest and gasps like she’s dying. Her eyes are glinting with humor.
“What’s wrong?” I narrow my eyes.
She chuckles. “It’s the first time I have ever seen you smile, and it’s awful.” She laughs, leaning forward. “Truly terrible. You suck at smiling.”
“I do not.”
“You do, too. Win her over, but whatever you do, don’t smile.” She belly-laughs, clutching her middle.
“Ha-ha…you’re so damned funny. I will get answers. You’ll see.”
Then she sobers. “Oh…one other thing: Kim is convinced that you are being inappropriate to our prisoner.” She licks her lips, looking at me weirdly.
“I slept with her, as in, eyes closed, actual sleeping. I did it so that she wouldn’t escape, not to be cozy.”
“You were naked, according to Kim,” she says.
“So what? Since when is that an issue? I sleep naked every damned night. I’m not changing my habits because of a Red. Fuck that! The human is far too sensitive,” I growl.
“That’s all it is? You’re not…?”