Page 208 of Bad Attitude
Thirty-Nine
Raven
Ireturn home, riding slowly on automatic, barely focusing on the road.
Echoes of our conversation run through my mind, over and over, like a tape on loop.
“Ravens mate for life, do you know that?”
“I want to go riding with you. Play pool with you. Hell, get into bar fights with you.”
“I love you, Genesis Greer. Nothing else matters to me but you.”
“That raven on your back? That’s you, right there. Always diving, never flinching.”
“Everything false I’ve given up. Everything true is yours.”
All the things I wanted to hear a week ago. None of which I can believe now, not when they fall from Declan Hale’s lips.
Shit. His name isn’t even Hale, it’s Maddox. FBI SpecialfuckingAgent Maddox.
I jerk on my bike, sitting up straighter, adrenaline dumping into my system.
Fuck… hehasn’t resigned. It’s notofficialyet.
His one reason for resigning was me, and I’ve just told him, in no uncertain terms, that I won’t accept him under any circumstances.
How could I have been sostupid?
I know he’s FBI.Kurtknows he’s FBI.
What will Declan do, as soon as he’s had a chance to think?
Hell, before that. While he’s still hurt and pissed.
I find a place to pull over, ripping off my gloves, yanking off my helmet. Reaching for the phone Tasha gave me. Hitting the button.
“Hey,” she answers. “Did you go through with it?”
“Listen, uh… I may have done something stupid.”
“Oh.” Resignation in her voice. “So you did go through with it. Where are you?”
“Just off the 101. Listen, Tasha. I need Kurt’s number.”
“So what happened? Did you find out anything about him?”
“Yeah, I did. He’s an FBI agent,” I say bluntly, “and I need Kurt’s number.”
“Honey, the line’s not clear. That sounded like you said—”
“He’s anFBI agent. It doesn’t get much clearer. Kurt’s number?”
“What?” Her voice has dropped to a whisper. “He’s an FBI agent?”
“Tasha. Time’s ticking. Kurt’s number.”
“Yes… yes. Shit. I’ll text it to you. Need to clear out of this place… move my stuff… shit…”
