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“Are you going to fire me after all?” Molly asked. “Or am I in some kind of trouble?”
“No, of course I’m not going to fire you.” He leaned down to look at her. “And if anyone is in trouble, it will be me—not you. Come on.”
He started walking and Molly trotted along beside him—he wasn’t slowing his pace today, which she took as a sign that he was worried about something. He was staring straight ahead and the expression on his face was grim.
That look coupled with her past experience of being fired over and over made her so anxious she could barely breathe. Finally, she couldn’t stand it anymore.
“Please, Commander Torus—wait!” she said, catching his hand to get his attention.
“Yes?” He stopped abruptly and looked down at her.
“I…I don’t even know where we’re going!” Molly exclaimed.
“Oh, forgive me. We’ve been summoned to Commander Sylvan’s office,” Torus said.
“Commander Sylvan’s office?” Molly’s voice came out in a squeak again. Oh no—she must really be in trouble! Not just with her boss but with her boss’s boss!
This is going to be bad—I know it! I just know it! she thought as her stomach clenched again.
“Molly? Are you well?” Commander Torus’s deep voice made her look up again and she saw a look of worry on his face.
“I…I’m fine,” she lied.
“No, you’re not—you’re crying,” he pointed out.
Molly put a hand to her cheek and was horrified to find that it was wet. He was going to think she cried about everything. But she couldn’t stop the sheer terror from washing over her—the fear that the rug was going to be yanked out from under her yet again.
“I’m sorry,” she said quickly, swiping at her eyes, which were burning by now. “I…I didn’t mean to. I’ll stop.”
“Hey…” Commander Torus knelt down on one knee in front of her, heedless of the other people walking down the long metal corridor. “What is it? What’s wrong?” He cupped her cheek in one big hand, a look of concern on his face.
“I just…this is scary, that’s all.” Molly gulped, trying to swallow the sob that wanted to rise in her throat. “I…I’ve been fired so many times. So if I’m in trouble, I’d rather know about it now—so I can…can try to prepare myself, you know?”
“You’re not being fired,” he said firmly. “I won’t let that happen. And if anyone is in trouble, it’s me. Apparently your ex-mate isn’t happy that I punished him for hurting you yesterday.”
“So it’s Zach, making trouble again.” Molly couldn’t keep the bitterness out of her voice. “Oh my God, I wish I’d never met him!” But she had wished that so many times in her life and she knew it didn’t change anything.
“He can make as much trouble as he wants,” Commander Torus said, frowning. “But I won’t let him hurt you again—in any way.” He took her by the shoulders and looked into her eyes. “Do you believe me, Molly?”
Molly looked into his silver-gray eyes and saw how serious he was. Slowly, the knot in her stomach started to loosen.
“Yes. Yes, I do.” She nodded.
“Good. Now, come here.” He pulled her into a hug and Molly went willingly. For a moment she pressed her face to the side of his neck and breathed him in. Why was his cedar and spice scent so comforting? Having the big Kindred’s arms around her made her feel safe—like no matter what happened, she would be okay.
“Thank you,” she whispered at last, sniffing. “I…I think I’m okay now.”
“All right.” Commander Torus released her and rose to his feet. “Come on,” he said, holding out a hand for her. “Whatever it is, we’ll face it together. And I promise you, I’ll take the blame for my actions.”
“But you did what you did for me,” Molly protested as they started walking again.
He shook his head.
“I did it for me, too.”
Molly didn’t understand this statement at all, but just then they turned the corner and Torus stopped in front of a sliding silver door.
“Here we are,” he rumbled. “Keep your head high, Molly—you have done nothing wrong.”
