Page 113 of All In

Locke isn’t just watching. He’s got Braxton on what looks like a hospital bed with the top tilted downward. Every bit of the blood in his body has to be rushing to his brain.

My head tilts as I attempt to understand what Locke is doing to his cousin’s feet.

Oh, sweet baby Jesus. He’s not performing acupuncture. He slams another needle into each of Braxton’s feet, one by one, and yanks a massive lighter from his pocket.

Okay, that’s inventive.

Ranger’s head tilts almost preternaturally. “Did you need something?” He tugs the handles, and both of Will’s pinky fingers rip backward at a disturbing angle. Laken’s ex wails, but the gag blocks most of the noise.

Holy shit.

They’re both absolute psychopaths…

And I’ve done nothing but taunt and harass Ranger since I met him.

“I just brought you some refreshments,” I lie.

Ranger nods, raising a hand. The handle is still wrapped around his fingers, and Will screeches in agony.

Some extreme sounds of misery come from Braxton. Locke’s dark waves fall around his face as he holds the lighter to the end of one of the needles.

“I told him to work smarter, not harder,” Ranger says blandly, tugging the handle with his fingers. “But I think he has a bit of long-term resentment to work off.”

“Right,” I choke out, striding forward to drop the water into his hand before heading over to Locke.

“Set it next to my chair, if you would,” Locke says, tucking his hair behind his ear. “How is Laken?”

“Sleeping,” I say, trying to decide if I should mention that I can’t get back in. “Uh, that’s actually what I wanted to talk to you about. I left the room, and now I can’t get back in.”

Ranger hums. “I suppose it is time to give you both access.” He glances at his watch. “We have twelve minutes left in this session. I’ll be happy to rekey it for you after they’re settled back into their cells.”

“That works,” I agree, backing away slowly. “I’ll just wait upstairs.”

Consider my eyes officially opened to the reality of pack life.

Chapter Thirty-Three

Laken

Iwake up to Ranger running his fingers through my hair.

“I have several gifts for you,” he murmurs, kissing the tip of my nose.

“They’re pack courting gifts.” Tanner sits on the end of the bed, and he pats my calf over the blanket. “He’s still an awful team player, but he did give Locke and me access to the pack bedroom.”

“That he did,” Locke agrees from his spot near Tanner on the end of the bed.

I smile as Ranger rolls his lips together. His desire to snap that it’s his bedroom fills the bond, but he holds it back.

“You’re ridiculously cute,” I tell him, tugging him to me with his T-shirt. He might be a psycho, but he’s my psycho.

I’m moody as hell at times. I can accept him if he can accept me. Also, knowing he’d murder someone if I asked him to is weirdly romantic.

He bends, and we share a playful, teasing kiss.

I’m so distracted that I barely notice when Ranger pulls my hand from under the blanket.

“A ring to commemorate our marriage.” He slides the ring on my finger. “Or rather, our pack commitment. If we do form a pack, I would like to keep my last name. My sister is officially a Forbes, and I’m the last living member to carry on my family name.”

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