“Fine.” Drew looked back at Jedd and was just about to open his mouth to say something when Kenny’s voice rang out through The Hut.
“Pres! Get out here!” he called.
“Shit,” Jedd groaned.
In the blink of an eye, the rest of them were moving through The Hut with urgency.
I stayed where I was, waiting for Drew to make the first move. I didn’t want to hide this time. I didn’t want to stand behind Drew and peek out to see the threat like I had done during his first confrontation with Chester Cortez, but I also wasn’t going to put him in a situation that could make matter worse.
“Give me a gun, just don’t make me stay in here,” I whispered.
He stared at me, his jaw ticking and anger rising. Kenny’s voice called out to him again, and Drew shook his head before he began to move in the same direction as the men.
“I’d never ask you to stay if you didn’t want to, but you can find a gun yourself, Ayda. If that’s what you want to do out there, fine, but don’t ask me to put one in your hand and plant you and my baby into the middle of a fight now. It isn’t just about you and me anymore. It’s about that child. The last thing I want is our baby standing in the midst of this, but it’s your body and your mind. Do whatever your gut is telling you to do. I’d never ask anything else of you. How can I now? This is so far beyond my realm of expertise, I haven’t got a fucking clue anymore.”
“No gun then,” I said as agreeably as I could, my hands palm up as I sensed his disapproval. I’d thought it was a fair compromise. Something that would set his mind at ease, not agitate him further. With the tension already rising, it was a stupid inclination. “I don’t want to be in any kind of fight. Not with this baby inside of me. I promise you. I will leave long before any of that even becomes a concern. If something should happen—if that asshole out there tries to start something, all I ask is that you look after yourself, okay? I will be long gone protecting the two of us.”
I put my hand on my stomach so he would understand.
“I haven’t died yet, have I?” He managed to smirk, despite his irritation.
“Keep up the good work. We need you.” I let my eyes flicker to the yard and back again.
“Pres!” Kenny called, just as Deeks came stumbling toward the war room.
“I gotta go,” Drew said quietly.
I nodded my head in the direction of the door and gave him a small smile, reassuring him. We had no idea what was waiting for us out there, but I’d meant every word of my promise. The first sign of real trouble and I would flee.
Drew gave me one last lingering look before tugging his cut down and heading to the door.
I followed him, stopping just as the light ate him up and chased the last of the darkness from my vision. I was outside, but only just, my back against the wall next to the door, ready to make an escape should it be necessary.