Page 42 of Lethal

Glancing up, I find Cole standing behind the victim—who is teetering to the side in the chair. His hands are perched on his hips, and a scowl distorts his handsome features. “It’s been longer than five minutes.”

Chapter 19

Raven

Once again, I find myself on Cole’s jet. I’m almost wondering if we’ve permanently moved into the cramped space, destined to buy our clothes as we need them. To sleep in shifts and eat shitty meals. We’ve spent so much time here, it feels as if the walls are closing in; the space becoming smaller...

“After we find Becca, we need to stay in one place for a while. I’m sick of being in cramped places.” I huff out an indignant sigh. Perhaps we could go back to New York. I can spend time with my brother and kill for the mafia.

“I thought you liked being close to us,” Vander teases. “Once upon a time, you didn’t go anywhere without me.”

“That doesn’t count, asshole,” Grayson says, tossing a throw pillow at Vander’s head. “You were her bodyguard. You were paid to follow her around. We could even say you were practically an escort.”

“No need to get rude about it,” Vander responds, then leans into me, and whispers, “He’s still bitter about how well I cockblocked him. Either that or the fact we won’t let him live down saying baby batter.”

“What happened to me being the favorite?” Grayson grumbles.

“I think it’s the baby batter thing. For sure,” Cole comments. He strides toward us along the aisle carrying a hard shell case with him.

Vander chucks the pillow back at Grayson. He catches it with a laugh that quickly turns into a wince. “Fuck, that hurts.”

“Your leg? Have you changed the bandage recently?” I ask him, worry pulsing through me. For some reason, I keep waiting for something bad to happen. And the worst part is, there’s nothing to back up the feeling either. It’s not coming from my gut. There’s no evidence to make me think anything is other than fine. Perhaps it’s guilt, or a delayed response that I should’ve had before that rocket launcher went off.

Either way, it’s made me more concerned about Grayson than I probably would be about any of the others. Grayson smiles at my concern. “Yes, mother. It’s fine. Us common folk aren’t as numb to pain as you are. Speaking of, how’s your head doing?”

“I am not mothering you. I’m concerned,” I scoff. The idea of me being motherly is downright laughable. “And I’m fine. Like you said, I don’t experience pain the same way. Haven’t even felt a thing.”

“You have been hovering lately,” Jasper can’t help but add.

“Fine, you want me to act indifferent, I will.” I cross my arms, annoyed they’re pointing out my concern for Grayson. They’re assholes. All of them.

“That’s not what we’re saying.” Vander places his hand on my thigh. The warmth of it sinks through the jeans I’ve changed into. I can’t be more thankful to have left that mosquito infested swampland.

Grayson stands with a wince and makes his way to my other side. “I enjoy it, Remi. You know I adore it when you show your love in roundabout ways.” I narrow my gaze on him, unsure if he actually means it or if it’s a passive aggressive dig. Reading my actions correctly, he clarifies, “I mean it. Don’t let them dictate how you express yourself.”

I brush off what he says. It reeks too much of emotions, which isn’t my thing. And he did say I should stay true to myself. Instead, I change the subject. “If your leg hurts so much, you should take some painkillers.”

“Painkillers are for pussies,” Cole offhandedly remarks, opening the case he brought with him.

“No, they aren’t.” Jasper shoots him a scathing glare. “Not all of us are like the two of you. Psychopaths experience pain differently.”

Cole glances up from what he’s doing, a beaming smile gracing his lips. “Thank you so much for noticing.”

“Something to take the edge off would be nice. It’s been throbbing like crazy,” Grayson admits. “I haven’t had anything since the morphine when it happened.”

“Damn, dude, you should have said something.” Vander shakes his head and stands. “I’ll get you painkillers.”

While he gets the pills, I hand Grayson my water bottle so he has something to swallow the pills with. He wraps his arm around my shoulders and drags me against his side, using his hand to guide my head to his chest. He presses a kiss to the back of it and runs his fingers through my hair.

“I’m fine, sweetness. You don’t need to worry about me. You did nothing wrong, and have to stop blaming yourself.” Vander comes back and hands him the pills. He holds a hand out for them, and I move to get out of his way, but he presses his free hand against my head to keep me in place while he takes the pills.

With a deep breath, I force my body to relax, enjoying the feel of his chest moving with each breath underneath my cheek.

“Little Bird,” Jasper calls reverently. I glance in his direction, finding him staring at us. “It would be nice if you cuddled us that way, too.”

The tone of his voice causes a throb in my chest. I’m not sure why I’d have such a reaction. “You have to force it on her. She doesn’t like to admit she enjoys it,” Grayson unhelpfully offers.

“She acts that way when I make love to her too,” Jasper commiserates with him. I’m not sure I like the idea of them bonding over forcing me to enjoy their affections.

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