Smoked (The Invincibles 5)

She looked at O’Brien. “It’s at my old house.”

Gene nodded.

“The woman who owns it now tried to give it to me the day we first met in the cemetery, and I told her I’d come back for it.” Siren turned to me; her eyes were scrunched. “I forgot.”

I held my arms open, and she walked into them. “It’s better that you did. If Byrne had found it at your house, both Gene and I would probably be dead.”

Siren’s shoulders began to shake. The adrenaline was wearing off, and she was crashing.

“Come here,” I said, leading her down the hallway. I opened the first door I came to. It was a bathroom, so I went to the next. I led Siren in and over to the bed. “Lie down, kiddo.”

“Will you hold me?”

“I will.” I lay on my back and pulled her into my arms.

“Isn’t that painful?”

“I’m fine,” I muttered, stroking her hair. After a few minutes, she looked up at me.

“Tell me what you’re thinking.”

“How good you feel next to me.”

She shook her head. “No, you’re not. You’re thinking you screwed up.”

“I did screw up.”

“What happened?”

I had my mind on her, not the job, but I wasn’t about to say so. Nothing that had happened was her fault.

“Smoke?”

“I didn’t do my job.”

“Okay,” she whispered, and I knew it meant she got that I didn’t want to talk about it.

“Sounds like Hughes is here. We should get back out there.”

Her arm tightened around my waist. “Another minute.”

34

Siren

I told Smoke I’d never been more afraid in my life, but now that wasn’t true. I was more afraid at this moment. He was pulling away from me, and I could feel it. He blamed himself for not protecting Gene and me. It hadn’t been Smoke’s job to look after me, but it had been with Gene. If I were in his shoes, I’d be retreating too. The difference was, I’d disappear into myself professionally. Smoke was pulling away on a personal level too. I knew exactly how he saw this playing out, and I had no intention of letting him.

It didn’t matter what it took. I wasn’t about to watch Smoke walk out of my life. I’d do whatever I had to, to make sure he stayed in it.

When Hughes and I finished assessing IMI’s agent list, I looked around for Smoke. I found him back in the bedroom we’d been in, sitting on the edge of the bed, staring out the window.

“I need to go and get the box,” I said, sitting beside him. “I want you to come with me.”

Smoke’s eyes met mine. “That isn’t a good idea.”

I nodded. “I’ll wait until you’re ready, then.”

“Don’t, Siren.”