The Girl Who Dared to Think by Bella Forrest (e reader for manga TXT) 📕

“It’ll work. It might take me a while to get to you, so don’t panic. If it’s an emergency, say that my cakes are ready, all right?”

She nodded, her gaze returning to the pills in her hand. “If anyone asks?”

“Say nothing. Net me. Okay?”

Sarah met my gaze and nodded, the tremulous smile returning.

The joy on her face continued to be bittersweet, but I understood. She’d just lost her husband. At least she’d be safe now, and that was all that mattered. The thought made me feel good. Really good. Amazingly good, like I could climb the shell of the Tower with my bare hands. This was what being a Knight should be. It was about helping, not hurting, the people inside the Tower. This was what I wanted more than anything: to bring people hope.

She rose up out of her chair, and Grey and I followed suit, expecting her to ask us to leave. To my surprise, she wrapped me in her arms, drawing me into a tight hug. She smelled of dirt and tears and euphoria, and I hugged her tightly back, uncaring that we were practically strangers.

“Thank you,” she murmured in my ear.

It was the best hug I’d ever had, I was sad to admit. But it was better late than never.

She moved on to Grey, and I saw his eyes widen as she pinned him to her, his arms wrapping around her all the same. Over Sarah’s shoulder, our eyes met. Something moved between us, then. A gentleness. It was impossible to describe, but I thought I felt my heart moving a little faster.

There was hope, now, and my life burned a little bit more brightly than before. I was grateful that he’d invited me along.

Grey was quiet as we left the residential area and headed back into the Greenery, and after a while, I couldn’t help but ask, “So how badly did I do in there?”

He looked over at me, the corner of his mouth quirking up, and he shook his head. “No more than I did.”

I cocked my head. “Isn’t this... what you do?”

“Sarah’s the first I’ve recruited. Roark recruited the ones we currently have, and he was the person who convinced me.”

“How many recruits are there?”

Grey shrugged. “I know a few of them from deliveries, but there are a few that Roark doesn’t even want me to know about. People in high-level positions who need to be protected.”

I blinked, sensing the answer to one of the questions that had formed during our exchange with Sarah. “Like an Eye who feeds you information on potential recruits?”

He looked sharply over at me, and after a moment of intense scrutiny, he smiled. “I knew you were smart, but that was some pretty good intuition. I’m impressed.”

“And also not answering the question,” I teased with a smile, though inside I was pleased that he had noticed that about me, and that he seemed to like it. I wanted him to like it.

“You’re like a dog with a bone,” he said with a laugh. “And yes—but I don’t know who it is. For everyone’s safety.”

“For everyone’s safety?”

“He’s an Eye, Liana. If he feels he’s threatened, he can find ways to hurt us. You know the Eyes are the second greatest force in the Tower, not for their physical prowess, but for their intellectual ability. He could gas us in our sleep or create fake arrests for us—whatever he wants. That’s why Roark doesn’t tell me. It’s just safer.”

“So... he’s a man?” Grey gave me a sharp look, and I smirked at him for a second, before resetting my face to serious and asking, “And Roark trusts him?”

Grey continued to walk, but he grew silent, his face pensive. “He does—as much as anyone can trust an Eye. He showed Roark the flaw in the nets that Paragon takes advantage of, to help Roark strengthen it, so... he is trustworthy. To a point.”

“Wait—if he showed Roark the flaw, then...”

“Exactly. He’s been in on this from the beginning. But beyond that, I don’t know who he is.”

I took a deep breath, and accepted his answer. I, however, was thinking about it, and there was only one question on my mind: What if it’s Alex? I could let it go for now, but as soon as I got a chance, I was going to try to pry the name out of Roark.

“So what about that blue pill you had earlier?” I asked.

Grey smiled, a short huff of air escaping him in a semblance of a laugh. “You really do not miss a beat, do you?”

“Let’s just say you won’t catch me resting on my laurels,” I replied archly, and this time he did laugh. I liked watching him laugh; he looked lighter, free of the burdens that seemed to collect when we were together.

“The pill... is in case the interview does not go well.” At my sharp glance, he added, “It’s not poison, if that’s what you’re thinking. It’s more of a contingency plan.”

I raised an eyebrow. “Yeah, that answer isn’t going to fly,” I announced, picking up my speed and pivoting so that I could turn and block his path. “You’ve already told me this much. Why not tell me the rest?”

He stopped, our bodies inches apart, and grinned. “I’ll tell you if you kiss me,” he teased, and if possible, my eyebrow rose even higher.

“You really expect me to fall for that again?”

Grey’s eyes were warm and filling with something I didn’t quite recognize or understand... something that made it feel like all of the oxygen had suddenly deserted the area, and caused my heart to pound heavily inside my chest.

“Expect, no. Hope?”

My heart continued to palpitate as he seemed to sway closer, his eyes dropping to my lips. Nervous, I licked them, and his gaze grew even heavier, causing my skin to tingle and my face to blaze with heat.

“I…” I faltered, unable to find any words. I wasn’t sure what to do or say...