Page 115 (1/2)

Elise nodded and then went into a kind of stasis She didn’t want hi--and she couldn’t blame him

"Shit," Axe breathed "Come here"

Safe in his ar his war I could do to help you," he whispered as he rubbed her back "I feel like I’m bad for you"

"No, you’re not"

After a while, she said, "Actually …" Pulling away fro you could do for me"

"Name it," he replied "And it’s yours"

FORTY-SIX

The following evening, Rhage and Mary let Bitty go to the Audience House again to see her uncle

It wasn’t any easier, Mary decided Nope Not so shot

And as the Mercedes took off down the hill once e went back into the house and stalled out in the foyer Thecleaned up, the Brothers going on about their nights, the shellans, too

"I kind of feel left behind," she said as she went over and sat on the lower step of the staircase "You know, our lives are ending in a way Everyone else is going on I , but it’s how I feel"

Rhage calanced at hiht But why didn’t you tell ear You know, after that last chest wound--that was too close a call, even for me And with Bitty around …" He cleared his throat "So, yeah, I asked Fritz to get me some I tried a nuht isto order another one?"

He shrugged "Guess so"

Mary put her arm around his shoulders--well, not all the way around because of his size "Bitty was so glad you’re okay"

"She’s a sweet kid"

As Rhage looked at his hands and pretend-picked at his clipped nails, Mary felt a now-fa to have to live with for the rest of her life There would be times when it wouldn’t be this acute, she told herself Times when it was even worse But it was now her co to be there

She didn’t have to ask Rhage to know that it would be the sarets?" she asked softly

"About taking her in?"

"Yes"