"For what?" Debra asked.
"You knew I was worried about Mr. Lowe, so you brought me," Kale said. "Without your suggestion, I wouldn''t have the chance toe."
He''d disliked her at first, but after all this time, he''de around.
"You''re wee," Debra said. "Now let''s focus on finding Michael and figuring out Drake''s location. I brought you, but I can''t promise we''ll get him out today. You get that, right?"
"Yeah," Kale said, his voice heavy. "I''ve got a favor to ask."
"What is it?"
"I know this trip is risky. Mr. Lowe is the only family I''ve got left. We''ve been through hell together. If he hadn''t found me back then, I would have been dead. If I don''t make it, promise me you''ll save him. The world never meant much to him before. No one did. But you''re different."
At first, Drake grabbed Debra to get at Marion, butter, she was all he saw.
Clueless about feelings, Drake never figured it out. But Kale knew she was special to Drake.
In all his years with Drake, Kale had never seen him truly smile. Orkgate was a sinkhole.
Before, Kale only saw Drake''s pain. He lived on the edge every day, broke down, and turned cruel. His rampages there were his twisted heart spilling out.
With Debra, he forgot the schemes and would throw tantrums like a kid.<fn2140> Follow current nov?ls on find?novel</fn2140>
Debra was touched by Kale''s faithfulness. "Don''t talk like that. We''re just here to meet Michael. No one is dying."
"I hope I''m wrong," he said. "But people like us, living on the edge, are sensitive to danger."
He pulled a pendant from his neck and handed it to her. "This is a charm I got years ago. It''s been with me forever. It''s all I''ve got worth anything. Take it. Promise me you''ll bring him back safe."
Debra eyed the pendant. She didn''t want it, but his steady gaze stopped her from saying no.
"Alright, I promise," she said, slipping it on. "But if we all make it back alive, I''m giving this back."
"Deal." He nodded.