Page 4 of Night Fury
“Then we might find her there.” Luke breathed out heavily. The tightness in his chest floated out, and with it his eyes watered. He didn’t even know tears had begun to slide down his cheeks until a droplet fell on the folder, quickly followed by another.
“We will find her,” Greg said, his voice stern and sure. “There’s plenty to worry about, Luke, but of that I can assure you.”
“Th-thank you.” Luke’s voice cracked before he fully dissolved into tears, and his family wrapped him in their arms.
* * *
Luke took his seat at the table next to his cousin, Mya. They exchanged a small smile before he said, “Thank you.”
Something in her eyes flickered, her face falling into a sad sort of kindness that echoed his own pain. Luke’s heart broke for her. She was trying to help him fix his pain, when hers would never be resolved. Her mate, Erik, was dead.
“I’ll always do anything I can to help you, you know that,” Mya said.
Greg and Daniella entered the room, cutting their conversation short. Greg sat first, Daniella perching on the arm of the chair, as had become a custom for them. For the first time, Luke imagined Johanna there with him, her blonde hair flowing over her shoulders and down to her waist, her blue eyes scanning the room, studying everyone. He knew she’d be welcomed here, and not just because he was family and original to this circle. No, she would be welcomed because of the information Greg and Daniella had shared in the kitchen. In the history of their circle, no one had ever provided such important information about an enemy, and no one had ever risked their life to do so. When Luke found Johanna, he’d make sure to share with her exactly what he thought about her little contribution.
Mya kicked his leg under the table, calling attention to its restless bouncing. He immediately stopped, turning back to Greg and Daniella.
“We’ll attack this location at 10:00 a.m., then these three locations at 3:00 p.m.,” Greg said, using his pointer to identify each set of coordinates. “For the half of you that are here, we work like normal, three teams leaving in fifteen-minute increments to scope the location before we attack. However, when we return we will not have another strategy meeting. Instead, we will assign A, B, and C teams and hit the three locations at the same time. I will be in charge of team A. We’ve handpicked a team for Luke who will be in charge of team B—”
Luke blinked, his eyes widening at the statement. Never had Greg given him such a level of responsibility. Luke’s abilities were best in sneak attacks, but he never expected to be trusted to fight on his own away from Greg and Mya. He was impulsive, quick to anger, and his patience only lasted for as long as he had to use it to outsmart his enemy.
Luke’s mouth fell open, words coming to the surface, but it closed when he caught the look in Dani’s gaze, a simple smile that spoke volumes to him.We trust you.
Mya said something beside him, answered some question, and Luke snapped back to the present.
Greg gave her a single nod before turning back to the other members at the table. “We leave in fifteen.”
CHAPTER 3
Luke met with his team.
Merida and Dominick were both people Luke admired and trusted. They understood his predicament; they were mated, and if there was anyone who could understand almost losing their mate and the trials to get them back, it was the two of them. Jason, Cara, and Anna completed their group, and he knew that their fighting styles and combined abilities strengthened an already incredible lineup that Luke couldn’t believe he’d been assigned to lead. Yet not a single member looked at him the way he expected them to, as someone who wouldn’t be able to guide them, whose irresponsibility would get them killed. Instead, they treated him with respect. Something about it made him feel proud, until the walls caved in and he realized this must be some sort of big mistake.
Luke excused himself and went to find Greg. He needed to tell him this was wrong, that Greg should not entrust him with the lives of others. After all, look how well that had gone for Johanna.
He spotted Greg with his arm wrapped around Daniella, speaking to another battle officer. Dani caught his approach and a mischievous look crossed her face. Then she tilted her head up and whispered something into Greg’s ear, causing him to turn to look at Luke as well.
Dani approached Luke, giving him a light pat on the shoulder. “Just accept it,” she whispered before she sauntered away.
Luke blinked for a moment and then glared daggers into the back of her head. He knew she could feel his stare, just like she knew why he’d come to speak to Greg. Dani was his best friend, and she understood him in a way most people didn’t. It also meant she was well versed on calling him out on his bullshit before he’d even opened his mouth, and she enjoyed doing it on a regular basis. But this wasn’t about him, not really. It wasn’t about pride, confidence, or his lack thereof. This was about the others and how they deserved someone who would lead them. Someone who could be cautious, level-headed, and would not snap at a moment’s notice. Someone who was not him.
Luke followed Greg into another room, all the while grinding his teeth at Greg's nonchalance. He barely waited for the door to close before he started.
“What the hell were you thinking?” Luke shouted. “I’m not fit to run a team. I’m not reliable or responsible enough for this, and those people,yourpeople, are going to be at risk!”
Greg cocked an eyebrow, his tone even as he spoke. “What are you talking about, Luke?”
“You know exactly what I’m talking about.” Luke huffed, burning a path into the carpet as he paced. “Greg, I’m not a leader like you are. Do I need to remind you that I ran off on not just you, someone who has practically raised me, but Mya, Dani, and the rest of your team, just because I thought I could rescue my mate? And I couldn’t even do that right. I even had Zachariah in the palm of my hand!” Luke hands balled into fists as he shook them. “I wasn’t able to kill him, and you think it’s a smart idea to have me lead a team?”
“Luke—” Greg began, but Luke interrupted him, his shoulders drooping as he went on.
“Greg, let’s just cut to the chase and be honest here. There’s a reason why people think of me the way they do, and they’re not wrong. I shouldn’t be trusted with other people’s lives. If we weren’t related, I wouldn’t even be this high in the circle. I’ve already failed enough for one lifetime, so please don’t make me ruin someone else’s life just because you’re trying to be supportive or give me a distraction. This isn’t the right way.”
“Lucas,” Greg bit out, his tone laced with anger. “Has anyone ever said any of those things to you?”
Luke rolled his eyes. “Of course not, but—”
“Then why the fuck are you saying them?” Greg shouted.
