Page 75 of Talk to Me

“We can eliminate all the threats.” McQuade gave a shrug as he stood. He was the only one who hadn’t gotten any rest since we began the operation. It might be time for him to take some shuteye. “We just need to identify them.”

Then again, he said he didn’t sleep while on an op. Not more than doze, which was why he’d taken first watch. If he was that light of a sleeper, it would be easier on him than having to listen to us moving around.

“My point,” I said before I downed the last of my coffee. There wasn’t enough caffeine to keep me awake much longer. She needed to rest and heal before we got on the move again. I’d ask about her drug allergies and everything else when she was up.

Acquiring broad spectrum antibiotics was not a problem. We’d passed a few pharmacies on the way in. I just needed the names.

“We can’t make her tell us anything.” At the end of the day, that was my final word on it. “We can ask, we can infer, we wait—but we can’t demand it. As we’ve established, she doesn’t owe us. We need to earn her trust.”

“That might take time we don’t have.” McQuade punctuated the mutter with a grunt. Then he rubbed the back of his neck. “We might not have another choice though. We’ll make the time.”

“Exactly.”

It was nice to know that while he might be a grumpy bastard, he did see sense. I caught Remington’s nod. We were all on the same page.

“You still need rest,” I told McQuade. “I’ve had four hours and so has Remington.”

“I told you, I don’t sleep on a mission.”

“Well this isn’t just a mission anymore,” Remington told him. “It’s likely going to be a long-term op. You need sleep so that when you have to watch our backs, you can.”

McQuade scowled. I got it. I really did, but… “Maintaining that level of alertness on no rest is not healthy for any of us. Not to mention, your sweet personality doesn’t need any more reasons to get grumpier.”

His dark look seemed permanently etched onto his face. Then the corners of his mouth twitched. When I raised my eyebrows, he let out another grunt.

“You know, I still don’t get why no one has shot you yet.” Grousing tone or not, he was almost smiling.

“It’s just a hallmark of how much more likable I am than you are. Try smiling once in a while, it’s good for your mental health.”

The absolute snort he released at that statement made me grin. So many battles could be avoided if you knew how to talk a person down. Charm could disarm even better than a weapon.

Sometimes.

The door to the bedroom opened and I rose to my feet even as Remington and McQuade turned to her. Patch limped out, every slow, carefully measured step made me hurt for her.

It was why McQuade had carried her inside. The last thing she should be doing was walking out. I took a step forward and I wasn’t alone, they moved as well.

Only the fact she raised her hand stopped us.

“I know you wanted me to sleep,” she said slowly, reaching the back of the sofa where she planted her bruised and battered hands. Leaning there, she looked from one of us to the others then back. “I’m tired—I need sleep. But…”

Her lips compressed.

“You don’t have to say anything,” I assured her. “We just discussed that you owe us nothing. Right now—you need to figure out if you can trust us the way we trust you.”

The tightness around her eyes deepened. The fact her hair was pale like cornsilk that had been dipped into chocolate at the ends was a captivating look. Maybe because I always expected her to be a little more buttoned down, maybe even prim and proper.

At the same time, it suited her. Off-beat, independent, and very much her own thing. She wasn’t going to fit in anyone’s box.

“I am so grateful that you came,” she said, the rasp in her voice revealed another layer to the damage she’d taken. “You want to help me and that’s—amazing. The thing is, no matter how grateful I am, I can’t ask you for more. I can’t ask you to fight this battle.”

Because it was a battle. At least she wasn’t pretending it was anything else.

“You didn’t ask,” McQuade said. “You never ask.”

“Nor do you have to,” Remy added. We’d say it as many times as we had to in order to make sure she understood.

“Maybe you don’t want to answer because you have secrets to keep and to protect. I get it.” Their silent nods added agreement. “But currently, you’re injured and without us you’re in the open. Not a place any of us are planning to leave you, whether you answer or not.”