The Legend Read Free

remember, finally. And yet I feel empty, and I couldn’t care less.
    â€œThat’s wonderful,” I smile, “truly wonderful. You must be relieved.” His own answering smile falters and I can see the resignation come over him. Aidan knows Reed and I were together when his memory was gone. He now believes that my anticlimactic reaction to this revelation is because of my feelings for Reed, and I am happy to let him believe that for now – it saves me having to deal with him.
    â€œYeah,” he nods, averting his gaze and taking a few steps backwards.
    â€œI’m feeling a bit tired,” I apologise and Aidan takes the hint, allowing Alex one last hug and then, without another word, he shepherds him out of the room.
    â€œWhat?” I snap, sensing my father’s bewilderment.
    â€œNothing,” he replies softly. “I’ll see you later, Bex.”
    It takes longer than I expected before Reed steps into the confined space. His green eyes are red-ringed, with dark shadows beneath them as though he has not slept for days. He has also lost weight and his sandy blond hair is darker than I remember and almost long enough to pull back into a ponytail.
    â€œHi,” he drawls, taking in every inch of me.
    â€œHi,” I force a smile that feels as uncomfortable as it is insincere.
    Reed doesn’t rush across the room, or take me in his arms. He remains standing in the doorway, seemingly unsure of his reception. The silence stretches between us and I clear my throat awkwardly.
    â€œYou okay?” he asks eventually.
    â€œYeah, fine.” I smooth down the blanket, for want of something to do. I don’t want him here – I don’t want to do this.
    â€œNo, you’re not,” he sighs. He takes a hesitant step into the room, and his gaze comes to rest on my flat stomach. “I’m sorry, Rebecca.”
    â€œFor what? You saved my life.”
    He ignores me. “Why didn’t you tell me . . . about the baby?”
    I had expected him to be angry, but there is only guilt and regret in his tone.
    â€œWhat difference would it have made?”
    â€œWhat difference? Seriously? Do you think I would ever have left you if I had known?”
    And then it registers. Reed blames himself for what happened to me. He blames himself for leaving me unprotected. Thinking back to the invasion of our Las Vegas headquarters, I know this is not true. There was nothing he could have done to change what happened. In fact, he probably would have got himself killed trying to stop them from taking me, and more people might have been hurt.
    â€œIt doesn’t matter now.”
    â€œOf course it matters! This is my fault!”
    â€œThere was nothing you could have done.”
    â€œYou don’t know that.”
    â€œActually, I do.”
    â€œBut . . . the baby . . .” his voice rises and he takes a deep breath, trying to regain control of his emotions.
    â€œI don’t blame you, Reed.”
    He ponders this for a minute and then his eyes meet mine, a lingering question burning in their depths. “How do you feel about me?”
    The question catches me off guard. Before I was captured by NUSA, when Aidan had no memory of me, Reed and I had been a couple. I had been happy. Reed was my equal in every way and he challenged me, pushed me, while at the same time being fiercely protective. But that was before. What Kenneth Williams had done had changed me. He had killed not just my unborn child, but that part of me that loved, that laughed, that lived for a better world. All I wanted now was vengeance. I couldn’t think any further than that.
    All these thoughts swirl around my head as I try to find the words to explain, but my silence speaks volumes. A terrible sadness emanates off him as he watches me and, before I can utter a word, he speaks again.
    â€œIt’s him, isn’t it? It’s always been him.”
    That is so far off the mark that