Canary by Tijan
Ash
When we returned to the house, bringing food with us, Raize’s phone chimed just as we stepped through the front door.
“They’re back!” Jake yelled from the kitchen.
“About fucking time.”
Jake’s smile stretched wide when he saw the large pizza box in my hands. “Nice. She can read minds.”
Cavers grunted, coming forward and taking the box from me. He frowned as he looked over my shoulder.
I turned to find Raize had stopped back by the door, reading his phone.
Cavers’ gaze moved back to me. “What were you guys doing today?”
“That’s none of our business,” Jake said before I could, glaring at Cavers, who ignored him as he put the box on the counter and opened it up.
Jake continued to glare as he turned to reach for paper plates and napkins on the counter behind him. He tossed them next to the pizza, but Cavers had already grabbed three slices.
We’d had pizza the night before, and this didn’t seem too appetizing now. I’d eaten two slices of pizza this morning. Raize had stopped to get soda, and water for me, and I regretted not grabbing food I liked from the store, too.
“Not hungry?” Cavers asked.
I lifted my head in surprise. Who knew Cavers cared?
Raize paused behind the counter. I met his eyes and shrugged. “You’re going to yell at me if I don’t eat that?”
“You didn’t say anything earlier.”
I lifted a shoulder. “I wasn’t thinking about food then.”
He frowned, just slightly. “What do you want? I’ll make a run.”
“Boss.” Jake lifted his hand, half a slice in his mouth. He spoke around it, “Icanakearundoo.”
Everyone frowned at him.
He shoved the rest of his slice in his mouth and held up both hands. “Wah?”
My stomach growled. “I don’t even know what I’d want to eat,” I told them. “I’ll eat a slice. I’ll be fine.”
Raize slid the water we’d bought in front of me. “Grab a sleeping bag and a blanket from the pile. You slept on the floor last night. You’ll need your rest.”
“Why?” Cavers’ voice sounded loud across the kitchen. His tone was gruff, and everyone looked his way. He didn’t back down. “Why does she need her rest? What’d you guys do today? Why weren’t Jake and I involved?”
Jake held up his hand again. “Don’t look at me. I’m not questioning you. I want to make that very clear.”
Cavers’ eyes turned hard. “You sent me on some run-around errands today. If you’re doing something, I want in.” He frowned. “Can’t prove my loyalty if I’m cut out.”
Cavers works for Bronski.
Raize shook his head. “You’re doing just fine. Those ‘run-around errands’ aren’t useless. Want me to cut you in? Do what I say, stop bitching about it, and prove your loyalty that way.” His words had a biting tone, and both Jake and I were quiet, waiting to see what Cavers would do.
He did nothing.
He went back to eating, but after Raize returned to his phone, Cavers sent him an angry look. He caught me watching him, and that anger transferred to me before he snuffed it out. “You still ain’t eating, Girl.”
“Her name is Carrie.” Jake sent me a grin.
“She’s asked to be called Ash,” Raize murmured, distracted and not looking away from his phone.
Cavers gave me the weirdest look, like he’d just realized I was a person, and Jake gave me an approving thumbs-up.
“I like it,” Jake said. “Mysterious. Somewhat linked to death. Very you. Carrie didn’t fit you, unless you were going to turn all rageful.”
I felt a laugh coming, and I tried to stop it. It came out as a snort-giggle, and I felt my face get hot. I just giggled.
I’d never been a giggler, ever in my life, yet I was giggling here, in this house, with a killer by me.
The earth was shifting under my feet. I was getting a new foundation—and I was thinking all these serious thoughts based on one embarrassing giggle?
I needed to get a life.
Wait. I couldn’t.
Never mind then.
“Eat,” Raize said. “Go rest after.”
“I was hoping for a card game tonight,” Jake said. “Anyone up to it? Raize, I heard you can play a mean game of poker.” Jake smiled. He wiggled his eyebrows at Cavers. “What do you say? War?”
Cavers stared at him, long and hard. “I used to play gin rummy with my grandma before she died.”
“Gin rummy it is! How about it, Ash? You spent all day with the boss. I bet you need a card game to unwind. I know I would—no offense, boss.” He held a finger in the air toward Raize.
“What?”
I almost giggled again. Raize wasn’t paying attention.
Jake looked relieved. “Ash?”
I considered it, but I didn’t want to be around Cavers. I didn’t want to think about Bronski, but I couldn’t avoid it, knowing we had a snitch in the house. I shook my head. “I’m going to shower and go to bed.”
“Looks like it’s you and me, Cave Man.”
“It’s Cavers.”
“That’s what I said.”
I was dressed,leaving the bathroom after showering for bed, when I stopped short. Raize stood at the end of the sleeping bag I’d rolled out in the corner by the window, studying my setup with a slight frown.
“What are you doing in here?”
The door was closed, but I could hear Jake and Cavers from the kitchen. Correction, I could hear Jake laughing and Cavers arguing.
“I wanted to check on you. Saw your face when we came in and Cavers was there.” He turned to face me, folding his arms over his chest. “Can you handle being around him, knowing who he’s reporting to?”
I bristled. “I can be professional.” I’d deal with it.
“You weren’t earlier.”
I flinched, but he was right. “Momentary lapse in judgment. It won’t happen again.”
He stared at me, his head cocked to the side. He stepped toward me, moving into the shadows. If he didn’t move, didn’t say a word, I could’ve convinced myself that he’d left the room.
When he spoke again, his voice was soft, almost gentle. “I’m not pushing to know why you entered this life, but if it happens again, you will have to tell me. I won’t give you another choice. Do you understand?”
My throat swelled up, but damn. “I understand.”
“You’ll be able to sleep with him in the house?”
“Yes, because if he does something, I’ll kill him. I don’t care who he’s working for.” I raised my chin, almost defiant.
He didn’t respond.
He turned and went to the door. “I’m going to teach you to shoot tomorrow. You’ll need to know from now on.”
All the air left me.
He pulled the door shut on his way out, and I cursed. He was expecting me to fall asleep after that parting comment?
