Page 52 of Forever Relentless

“Convenient.”

I looked back at her, recognizing she wasn’t angry, not really; she was scared and looking for somewhere to put it. Unfortunately for her, I was a very big target.

“You’re looking for a fight,” I told her bluntly. “I’m not the guy you want to fight with.”

Her eyebrow arched. “Why? Because you’re big and bulky and a tough guy?”

“What?” I shook my head. “No.” My voice stayed flat. “Because if you swing at me, I swing back. And I don’t think that’s what you actually want.”

Briar’s eyebrow rose. “You sure about that, number fifty-nine?”

I rolled my head on my shoulders. “Yeah. So like I said, I’m heading out.” I gave her a tight smile. “Thank you for everything you shared with us, and tell Diana that too.” My eyes flicked to the bedroom door once. “I’m sorry for her loss, and everything that’s happened.”

I was at the door and outside on the stairs before she could reply. I passed Dante, who had stopped halfway on the stairs, and I heard him say he’d talk to Sav later. I felt him at my back, and we left her building in silence. Only when we were clear did I turn my head to look at him.

“That was intense,” I said with a shake of my head.

“She’s fiery,” he said with a slight smile. “Complete flip to who she pretends to be at work.”

“She’s got a screw loose if you ask me,” I muttered. I didn’t entirely mean that. “Maybe pretending to be so calm and timid during the day makes her worse.”

He snorted, and I smiled slightly, feeling the tension between my shoulders begin to ease.

“I never expected all that,” I admitted as we headed back to the dorm building.

He shook his head. “I was beginning to think Sterling was innocent, but I never expected all of it. Not even close.”

“And she killed herself?” I didn’t look his way. “I hate that the most.” My mind turned inward, remembering the sharp ring of the phone in the middle of the night, and Dante was too perceptive not to see it.

“Experience of that?” he asked quietly.

I grunted. “Yeah.” I saw his look. “I don’t talk about it, not then and I won’t now, so don’t ask.”

His eyebrows rose slightly, but he said nothing, simply heard me and let it go. I wasn’t naïve. I knew he wouldn’t let that rest between us.

“Savvy wants the lowdown,” he said, smoothly changing the subject. “I . . .” he hesitated. “I don’t think we need to tell Hadley how close she is to her potential source.”

This was exactly why he was the team leader and a generally good guy. Pill popping aside. And perhaps his complete obsession with his girl and the whole ‘who hurt you’ mentality he had when it came to her.

I didn’t say any of that. I simply agreed, and we both fell silent as we headed back to the apartment.

Dustin still wasn’t back, and somehow, Savvy had gotten there before either of us. She must have run.

I let them say their hellos, which involved a lot of touching I didn’t need to see. When I came back out of my room, they were talking quietly, and Savvy told me she was making tea. I took the bottle of water Dante gave me, already knowing I was going to turn down the hot drink.

Sitting on the couch in my usual seat, I waited until she was ready, and she and Dante were on the couch.

“So?” Savvy looked between us. “Is it worse than we thought?”

She looked apprehensive and excited at once; it was a weird look and distracted me for longer than necessary. She blushed and touched her cheek.

“Most of the bruising is gone, Noah,” she reminded me, completely misinterpreting the look.

I hadn’t even been thinking of the fact that I’d given her two black eyes. “Yeah, sorry. Again.”

She smiled at me, pure and heartfelt. “It was a simple mistake.” Savvy shrugged. “If anything, I should be begging you to forgive me for startling you.”

Dante opened his mouth to speak, and she simply put her hand over his mouth, not even looking at him. That’s how well they knew each other now. It was freaky how quick it happened, but good, because they were basically made for each other.