Page 312 of Shadowman

“Is it??” Ren snaps. “He threatened you on the phone and let our best friends think we were dead! As far as I’m concerned, he can rot.”

“I’m just saying, Byron can take care of himself,” Luthor argues. “It should be up to him… Right, B?”

“Yea… What do you want to do?” Dash asks me.

Trepidation seeps from my pores. I honestly have no clue what to do…

If I’m listening to my heart, I kinda want to hear what Trevel has to say…But that stupid thing is what got me into this in the first place!

Plus, the last time I chose Trevel over these people, they ostracized me. And I really don’t want to feel that kind of rejection again. Especially for someone who lies to me and hides things like it’s second nature.

“Ren’s right,” I gulp.

Ren’s head cocks. “I am?”

Luthor rolls his eyes.

“Yea, he’s basically a stranger. I don’t even… know him.” I hate the way my voice tremors on those words, and how much I can tell everyone else heard it.

“Enough said,” Velle grunts, repositioning his rifle. “Want me to shoot him?”

I’m obviously about to sayno thank you, when someone else joins the conversation.

“Hang on a minute.” Dr. Love steps over, putting himself close to the barrel of the rifle, like he’s attempting to shift Velle’s aim. “You know he saved me, right?”

He says this to Velle, but then turns his amber eyes on me.

“Wasn’t he the one who turned you in to The Ivory in the first place?” Jasper scoffs.

“That’s irrelevant,” Dr. Love replies stoically. “Officer Chevelle and I have tried to kill each other before. In fact, haven’t most of you been at odds at one time or another over the years?”

Eyes are shifting around the space, considering this definitely true fact.

“I agree that it should be up to you whether you wish to speak to him or not,” he says to me, then addresses the group. “Outside of that, we should still let him in. Find out what he has and give him the opportunity to join us… if he wants.”

“I hate to disagree with you, Lemuel, since you’re just…shredded, and your jawline is immaculate,” Ren flutters. Hancock and Dash both cackle as Dr. Love’s lips twitch. “But I’m looking out for my best friend here. The things that former patient of yours has done are questionable as fuck.”

“He withheld the truth,” Felix jumps in. “I mean, who hasn’t?”

The way everyone’s faces slowly shift in Ren’s direction feels almost comical. In fact, Luthor folds his arms over his chest, presenting his fiancé with a smug look of satisfaction.

“Who… me??” Ren gasps. “I’m the most honest person here! I’m practically Abraham Lincoln!” Luthor chokes while the rest of us gawk at him like he’s insane. “Wait, didn’t he hide the fact that he was super gay? Never mind, I don’t know shit.” He drapes his hands on my chest. “Do whatever you wanna do, B. I trust you.”

I let out a breath, feeling the pressure like a thousand pounds of concrete doubt on my shoulders. The only person I can look to right now is Velle.

“We all know you can handle yourself,” he says with a smirk, and I have to huff, rubbing the back of my neck. But then he goes serious. “I shouldn’t have turned my back on you… Back at the prison. You’re just as much a part of this team as the rest of us, and we need a warrior like you in our arsenal. If you say the Brit can be trusted, then that’s good enough for me.”

“Aww!” Ren squeals, hugging onto Luthor’s waist. “Look at Dad being all fatherly…”

“For the love ofGod, Luthor, sit on his face or something,” Velle gripes.

I snort, biting the inside of my cheek.

“Oy!” Trevel hollers from just outside the wall. “The longer you lot take chatting, the less time we have until The Ivory discovers what’s missing! And when he does, it’ll be all-hands on deck, so to speak.”

“I’ll go outside and talk to him.” I try to project confidence I’m not feeling, bracing myself for whatever could happen.

And believe it or not, the prospect of getting mowed down by the cartel isn’t even the scariest thing out there.