by A. P. Madden
“What’s wrong?” she asked. “Why don’t you want Caelan to know about the map?”
“Why do you think anything’s wrong?” Luke said, pointlessly trying to evade her questions.
“You should look happier,” Naomi said. “We won. It’s a party.”
He tried to grin. “Maybe I don’t like parties.”
“I think you do. Seeing that everyone you care about is safe and alive makes you happy.”
Luke sighed. “Alright. You saw what Caelan did the other day.”
“Executing Morgan was a difficult decision-”
“Not that. He... When I was speaking with him and Jackson beforehand, he talked about executing everyone. All the prisoners. Everyone who had lived in Morgan’s camp.”
Naomi stared at him. “That’s insane.”
“I know. And now, I’m wondering if...”
“If what?”
“If he’s the man I thought he was. What do you think?”
Naomi considered it for a while, and her eyes followed the people dancing and talking and drinking. “You know him better than I do.”
“That’s not an answer.”
“Yes, it is. I barely know him. I know what he’s built here - what you’ve both built - and I know the people here. That’s not the same as knowing him. But I do know you, and I trust your judgement. If you think we need to do something about him, then I’m with you.”
“I don’t know what we should do.”
“Then don’t do anything. Until you’re sure, one way or the other, don’t rush into it. We can find out more information about the military camp and the super-city, and then, if we need it, we’ll be ready.”
“What if I make the wrong choice?”
“You’re not alone,” she said. “We’ll figure it out together. For now, though, you deserve a night off. We both do.”
She stood up and held out her hand, waiting for him with a warm smile.
Luke pushed his worries aside and stood up. He took her hand and let her lead him into the centre of the dancing crowd. They danced and laughed and bumped into almost everyone around them, and eventually, Naomi stepped away to get them both a drink. Luke stayed where he was, losing himself in the crowd and the moment, and it came to him. He knew what to do.
One more time, he decided. That was when he would reach out to the other groups. If Caelan crossed the line again, gave him another sign, another red flag or a warning that he was becoming something darker, something more dangerous, then Luke would act. No more justifying or ignoring or dismissing it.
If that time came, Luke would do what had to be done. And who knew? Maybe it never would. Maybe Caelan would never cross that line again.
Maybe.
Luke put his hand in his pocket and touched the map and the paper, just to remind himself that they were still there, and then Naomi returned with two drinks and a bright smile, and he grinned back at her and took the glass.
Before they went back to dancing, Luke glanced at Caelan. The man was standing across the room, and Luke watched as he smiled and laughed with some of his men.
The most powerful man in the entire valley, the leader of the largest group in the area, and Luke’s closest friend.
Caelan looked up and saw Luke watching him, and he raised his glass to Luke and gave him a smile.
Luke raised his own glass in return, but his other hand gripped the papers tighter.
Just in case.
***
THE END
Thanks for reading Stay Out of the Shadows! I hope you enjoyed reading it as much as I enjoyed writing it. If you did, please consider leaving a review. It makes it a lot easier for other readers to find this book and it puts a smile on my face when I find out someone liked it.