The Last Mission of the Living (The Last Bastion #2)(48)

“You look so sad. So hurt.”

“And helpless.” Lindsey took another long sip from her drink.

“You’re not helpless. You’re capable. You saved my life.”

Lindsey’s finger danced over his hair, fringing his high forehead. “This is so not regulation.” She obviously wanted to change the topic.

“SWD is much more lax than Constabulary about the whole hair thing. Though looking at your hair, I got to wonder if they’re slacking off.”

Touching her fallen bun, Lindsey rolled her eyes. “I tend to tug at my hair when working. Vaja says I should chop it off.”

“Vaja... is back?”

“No, no. I should say he used to say that. But my dad always liked my hair long. He used to brush it before I went to sleep when I was very little. Of all the things from my childhood, that is the one thing I remember. My dad brushing my hair...”

“It’s a lovely memory.” Torran tugged at a hairpin holding her bun together and her long locks unraveled around his hand. “It looks nice down.”

“You’re drunk.” Lindsey decided.

“Yep.”

An SWD officer brushed past them and his foot hit Lindsey’s stool, nearly toppling her off it.

“Hey!” Torran shouted after the man, but the only response he got was a dark look before the customer went to join his friends at a table.

“I should go,” Lindsey said swiftly. “I am in ‘enemy’ territory.”

“I’ll come with you,” Torran said, downing his drink and sliding to his feet.

“You don’t have to.”

“Yeah, I do. I’m feeling surly.”

Lindsey gave him a grateful look. When he took her hand, she didn’t protest, but followed him out of the packed bar. They both ignored the disdainful looks cast in their direction. Torran hadn’t fully realized how much anger was brewing in the SWD against the Constabulary, but he had been out of the loop for the last few weeks.

Without any real direction, they walked for a few blocks through the impressive buildings that ringed the SWD Facility. This area of the city was cleaner and less crowded than the rest of The Bastion. Most of the buildings housed offices for government officials.

Night had cast a thick blanket of darkness over the city and fog filled the streets. Only street lamps illuminated their way. Torran didn’t like that Lindsey had walked all this way alone. Rape and assaults were rare, but did happen.

“Torran,” Lindsey said softly.

Turning toward her, he saw tears on her face.

“You’re going beyond the wall soon.” It wasn’t a question.

“Yeah.”

“Come back, okay?”

“Lindsey...”

When she kissed him, he knew it wasn’t out of love, but out of need. The pain, loneliness and fear poured out of her and matched his internal turmoil. After a few seconds, he pulled away and instead held her tightly in his arms.

“I’ll come back,” he whispered.



*



Lindsey initially felt foolish seeking Torran out at the bar, but as he walked her back to her small flat, she let go of those feelings. He obviously did care about her and his presence was a comfort. Whereas Vaja would’ve been hounding her to disclose what was going on in her head, Torran allowed her to be alone in her thoughts and only divulge what she was comfortable telling him.

Of course, there was no way she could tell him about Maria and Dwayne being on the run from the SWD. Nor she could she tell him that she’d discovered what the SWD was planning and how Torran fit into their designs. When she’d seen his name on the roster of those selected to venture into the outside world in pursuit of Maria, it was as if the air had been knocked out of her lungs. Commandant Pierce had all the information Lindsey had collected, but she wondered if the Constabulary would be able to counter what the SWD had planned. She was still processing all she’d learned for it was very overwhelming.

Clutching Torran’s hand, she wondered if she should disclose what she’d discovered. Of course, that would be revealing her illicit activities. That was something she did not want the SWD to know, and she was still determining if she trusted Torran with that information or not. Of course, she couldn’t warn him that she’d do everything possible to prevent his mission from being a success.

So instead of talking, they walked in silence.

When they reached the narrow alleyway that lead to the stairs to her flat, she pulled him to a stop. “Torran, you don’t have to walk me all the way home if you don’t want to. I’m sorry I showed up being an emotional mess—”

“That’s not a problem. I’m glad you came to me. But do you want me to go and leave you be?” Torran asked in such a way she knew he’d respect whatever she said.

After a beat, she admitted the truth. “No.”

Wrapping his arm around her shoulders, he guided her toward her small flat. “Lindsey, I don’t know what happened today, but I’m here for you. That’s what friends do. Right?’

“You know, Maria would have adored you,” Lindsey said, and felt the pang of loss like sharp dagger in her gut once again.

“I am a likable bloke,” Torran said teasingly.

Nearing the stairs, Lindsey realized that someone was sitting halfway up the steps clad in a dark coat with a hood over their head. Torran immediately stepped in front of her, which partially annoyed her.