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About what?I wanted to ask but the words sat in my chest heavy like rocks.

“I miss him too.”

The emotion in his voice made my throat ache, but I just closed my eyes.

* * *

I must’ve drifted off because I woke with a gasp, struggling to keep my scream locked in my throat.

“Hey, you ok?”

I blinked away Trey’s bloody face, trying to get my bearings. I was sitting straight up in my bed and beside me, Mac sat in the chair staring at me with wide, alarmed eyes.

“Bones?”

“I’m fine,” I said, my voice hoarse.

I pulled the blankets off and scooted my way to the edge of the bed. Mac stood, getting out of the way.

“Careful,” he warned, “you had a fever for a long time, and you’ve got a bullet wound in your leg.”

I didn’t remember getting hit, but as I stood, my legs trembling, a sharp ache came to life in my left calf. I started limping toward the door.

“You need the outhouse?” Mac asked, and I realized he was walking with me, hovering close.

I nodded.

“Can I help you walk?” he added, an edge to his voice.

“I can do it,” I muttered.

While I sat in the outhouse, I pulled up the skirt I wore to see my leg. It had been cleaned and bandaged, and I wondered who did it, now that Trey?—

I sucked in a sharp breath and forced myself to shove the memory of his bloodied face and empty eyes back down.

When I came out, a small crowd of people stood in front of the clinic. Mac took my arm without asking if I needed help, and I didn’t argue about it. As we approached, the crowd shifted, revealing Nemo. He leaned heavily on a cane, his face pale, but he smiled at the sight of me.

“Good to see you up, Bones. I’m sure you heard I’m taking over, but I just wanted to make sure you knew you’re an important part of the hold and your place here is solid.”

I didn't say anything. Did he think he needed to remind me that I belonged to the Vault? Clearly, I knew. I'd learned my place. An awkward silence fell, but finally, Nemo said something about letting me rest and left. The crowd of people followed him, and I watched them leave. Mac still had my arm tucked in his.

“Bones?” Mac asked.

I flicked my eyes up to him. I couldn’t find the energy to do much else. His brow furrowed as he studied me.

“Are you hurt?” he asked.

I shook my head.

“Are you sure?” he pushed. “I mean besides your leg.”

I shook my head again and looked away. I hurt inside and out, but he couldn’t do a thing about it. We stood there for a while, and my mind wandered away again.

“Bones, you can talk to me. Nobody expects you to be ok right now.” Mac finally said in a low, urgent voice.

I wasn’t ok, and I wasn’t trying to pretend anything different. I was justempty.I didn’t understand what they wanted from me.

“You want to go see some of the kids?”