Into the Fire (Flame in the Shadows Trilogy #1)

28. Mel

CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT

MEL

I dash through the caves, my heart pounding with each tick of the clock.

All those lives. Tommy will understand. He’ll want to help.

I thunder around the last corner leading to the gym, losing my footing when I try to take the turn too quickly. A strong hand seizes my shoulder and steadies me. Warmth fills my chest, and I look up with a wide smile, but…

My stomach drops.

The face that’s staring down at me is twisted in anger. The dark eyes burn .

Not Tommy.

Hunter’s fingers dig into my shoulder, and I balk. Teammates or not, it’s obvious he hates me as much as ever. Maybe he was in on Cait’s little scheme to get me in trouble. My jaw works, but no words rise to my lips.

“I’ll get right to the point.” The hand on my shoulder flexes again. “Kick Sam off your team.”

As if I’m going to take orders from him. “Excuse me?”

“You heard me.” Hunter releases my shoulder, crosses his powerful arms.

I cross mine too. “No.”

“Yes.”

My eyes narrow, anger building like a firestorm in my heart. Hunter has no right to make such a demand. Lisa doesn’t believe in Sam thanks to him, but as the person Sam cares about most, Hunter should. Especially knowing why Sam dropped out of his original mission team assignment.

The flame in my chest burns brighter. “Why would I want someone so talented off my team?”

“Don’t play cute. You know Sam has never been in the field. Vik and I can provide more than enough support. Do you want him to get hurt? Or are you hoping his inexperience will get us all caught?”

“The ‘Mel is a traitor’ act is getting tired. Why don’t you go find Cait and complain to her instead of bothering me? I wouldn’t be surprised if you helped her set me up.”

Hunter scoffs, rolls his eyes, but doesn’t deny it.

My blood sizzles. “Sam is just as capable as any of you. What gives you the right to decide he can’t go on missions?”

“What gives you the right to decide he can? Who are you to lead us, anyway? Who are you?”

Heat creeps over my cheeks. Hunter might be a prick, but he’s right about this. I’m no one. “I’m the only person willing to step up. You want to lead this mission? Have at it.”

Hunter cocks his head. “There are reasons we stay in the shadows, you know. Why should we trust your decisions? What have you ever done in your life that makes you worth following?”

“I got the bill of lading.”

“Dumb luck. You didn’t know what you were doing, and if Williams hadn’t helped, you would’ve been worm food. That is, if you’re really on our side. Something I’m not at all convinced of.”

I shift. Hunter’s right. I didn’t know what I was doing then, and I don’t know what I’m doing now.

Still, I have to try. If not me, who?

“That’s fine. I won’t waste my breath trying to convince you, and I’m not taking Sam off the team,” I say, feigning cool indifference. “You don’t think I have what it takes to lead us. Fine. I’m team lead regardless of your opinion. You’re free to remove yourself if you so choose.”

Hunter’s mouth flattens. “I’ll ask again. Why do you think you’re qualified to make that decision with Sam’s life on the line?”

The darkness in his narrowed gaze sends a beat of fear thrumming through me, but I ignore it. “I’m not, but Sam is. I trust him. He knows what he can do.”

“You actually care about him, don’t you?”

“Of course I do!” I throw my hands into the air. “He is strong, and smart, and talented. Have you ever watched him in the sparring ring? Seen the courage behind his kindness? He deserves a shot to prove himself. If none of you will give him that, I will. You’ll all see.”

“Mel,” Hunter says fervently. He runs both hands through his hair. “Please. If you truly care about Sam, leave him out of this.”

“Why?” I snap.

“Because he isn’t the sort of person who could hurt someone, even if he needed to. Because he will get hurt.”

I frown, a flush of dread dousing my fury.

The violence of last night’s mission is seared into my brain. The guards’ heads as they exploded. Their throats spilling out. I can’t imagine Sam in the middle of that.

But I know what it feels like to be underestimated, to be constantly doubted and questioned. If I kick Sam off my team, he’ll never get his shot in the field.

Empathy is not a weakness. I know Sam can do this. I believe in him.

Conviction rises like molten steel in my chest.

Sam can do this. And so can I.

Voice soft, I say, “Sam is kind and gentle, but that doesn’t mean he’s not qualified, and it doesn’t mean he needs your protection.”

Loathing sharpens Hunter’s features. “You have no idea what you’re talking about . ”

My blood boils anew, my own eyes pricking at the injustice of it. How dare Hunter go behind Sam’s back and try to ruin this for him? How dare he beg for Sam’s choice to be taken away? Even Lisa respected his right to choose.

How dare he?

Before I think better of it, I’m in Hunter’s face.

“Of all people, you should support Sam in this. How do you think he feels, knowing you don’t believe in him? He has to hear Lisa and everyone else tell him he’s not good enough over and over again. You should be the one backing him up, telling him he is good enough and he can do this.”

I stop short, throat stuck. I might be yelling at Hunter, and with good reason. But still, as the words roll off my tongue, the hurt behind them, the anger and fire … I can’t help but feel they’re aimed at someone else.

Someone who bailed the second I volunteered to lead this mission.

Hunter stares at me, his expression appropriate to being walloped with a battering ram. I don’t give him a chance to recover.

“You should be in Sam’s corner no matter what. Yet here you are, going behind his back, trying to get him kicked off the team. Honestly, Sam is too good for you. Far too good. He deserves better.”

With a simmering glare, I turn on my heel and march toward the gym and the stairway to the summit. My palms tingle, but it won’t help anything to turn around and smack Hunter, even if it’d make me feel better.

“What did you say?”

I freeze, taken aback by the accusatory tone in his voice.

Shit.

I’m not supposed to know about Hunter and Sam.

Heart in my throat, I turn around.

Hunter’s bronze skin is wan. “Did you say Sam’s too good for me? What the fuck is that supposed to mean? He’s my best friend.”

I gulp. “Um. He deserves better friends.”

Hunter’s eyes harden, his jaw flexed. Without another word, he turns his back and stalks away toward the main body of the caves.

“Wait!” I lurch forward, stomach churning as he disappears around the corner.

Shiiiiit.

I practically told him I know about him and Sam. I should find Sam, to warn him, but my meeting with Lisa is ticking closer, and I need to hash things out with Tommy before I speak with her. Otherwise, he won’t be there for my team’s initial planning session, and I need his knowledge, his steady support behind me.

Throat dry, I turn for the gym. I’ll hurry with Tommy, then find Sam and make things right before I meet Lisa.

There’ll be time. There has to be.