Page 152 of Specter Bred

“Hmm. Really?” His brows lifted. “That’s weird. I just passed Graves on the way over. He was in the mess hall with Alvarez and Cutter. Didn’t look like a man with anywhere to be.”

I sighed and hopped down from the wall, putting myself on my feet as Redwood drew closer.

“I’m not lying, Redwood. Graves loves ruining my night by making me run drills in the dark. Take it up with him.”

His mouth curled.

“Oh, I don’t think you’re lying about meeting him.” He narrowed his eyes. “I think you’re lying about why.”

I opened my mouth, ready to tell him exactly where he could shove his suspicions, but Redwood’s attention shifted past my shoulder.

“What do you think, Teller?” he called out. “Think Teacup’s lying?”

My entire body went rigid.

“Don’t. Call. Me. That.”

I whipped around just as Alec Teller stepped out from the shadows, cutting off the path behind me as he moved closer.

Great, Redwood wasn’t alone. While I focused on Teller, Redwood reached out, caught the end of one of my braids, and lazily wound it around his fingers.

I jerked away from him. “Don’t touch me!”

His grin widened. “Why can’t I call you Teacup? Graves does.”

“Yeah, and if I could get him to stop, I would.”

“Ah.” Redwood’s expression turned smug. “So maybe if I fucked you like Graves does, I’d earn the privilege too.”

“What the fuck are you talking about, Redwood?” I snapped. “Graves and I? Come on. The asshole hates me. He’s been trying to run me out since day one.”

Teller had moved closer while we spoke, leaving me nearly boxed in between them.

“See, that’s what we thought too,” Redwood said, glancing at him. “Right, Teller?”

“Yup,” Teller folded his arms. “Couldn’t figure out how the hell you made it into Phase Two.”

Redwood’s smile sharpened. “Not until earlier.”

My stomach tightened.

“I saw you with Graves,” he continued. “His hand around your throat. His face buried in your neck, scenting you. Heard him talking about how your body knew exactly who you belonged to.”

Shock crossed my face before I could bury it. Redwood saw it and his grin told me everything I needed to know. There was no point in denying it anymore. He hadn’t guessed or heard a rumor. He had been there, watching us and listening.

A sick feeling settled low in my stomach, and an icy chill slid down my spine as the pieces clicked into place. If Redwood had been listening earlier, then he had heard about the Helix attack too. His being here was no coincidence.

He had written the note.

He had lured me out here.

Graves wasn’t running late and he wasn’t moments away from stepping through the trees and interrupting whatever this was. He had no idea I was at the range.

Neither did Hayes. The last thing I’d said to him was that I was going to bed.

I was alone with two men who hated everything I represented and had gone to considerable effort to get me out here after dark.

Scratch that.