Page 71 of Falcon’s Forever

“I know,” Falcon replies, his voice breaking slightly.

My gaze drops to the blood covering him again. “What happened to you?”

“We were ambushed,” he answers.

“Where?” I ask.

Falcon hesitates, and I know the answer is going to hurt before he gives it.

“On the east side,” he admits.

My stomach drops. He was somewhere away from the compound.

“Why were you there?” I demand.

“We were collecting medication for Knox,” Falcon explains.

That’s legitimate, and for a moment, confusion interrupts the anger building inside me.

“Did you follow protocol?” I ask.

“At first,” he admits.

There it is.

“What does that mean?” I press.

Falcon looks down at the floor before forcing himself to meet my eyes. “We picked up a tail. The club ordered us to return using the western route, but Rachel needed the second part of her prescription.”

“And?” I ask.

“I went back for it,” he confesses.

“Falcon.” His name comes out as a warning.

“I had Hustler with me, and the club knew where we were,” he adds.

“But they told you not to go,” I remind him.

“Yes,” Falcon admits.

He doesn’t offer an excuse or try to soften what he did.

I hold his gaze. “What happened?”

"Two vehicles boxed us. I moved into an industrial area to keep civilians out of the line."

I stare at him. "And while you were doing that, they attacked here."

His face changes. "I know."

Emily's blood is still under my fingernails. I can see the thin red line the soap didn't get. "You left."

Falcon closes his eyes for a second. “Yeah.”

I’m not shouting or even accusing him. I’m only saying the truth and letting it sit between us.

“You left after everything we talked about,” I say.