Page 11 of Hidden But Not Safe

“You ripped it.” Her lips hardened in a twist as she threw the scraps at Julio. “How could you fucking rip it!” she screamed.

The torn shirt didn’t go far, just fluttered toward the ground in front of her, but the intent was enough. Julio lunged.

Meg fled. Straight for Naz. She threw herself down in front of him, likely scraping up her skin. Naz lost sight of her, lost sight of everything except the man rushing him.

Julio’s dick was out, and he was coming straight at Naz.

Naz lost a beat of time. He was never sure how much time he lost whenever that happened.

The blackness receded, and Seb stood in front of Naz, holding his arms.

Julio stood frozen, but at least he wasn’t dead. He eyed Naz warily.

Naz tried to break Seb’s grip.

“Whoa!” Seb said, his eyes flashing. “Everyone needs to check their shit.” He was between Naz and Julio, but his eyes were on Naz. “You’re good. No one’s coming after you.”

Naz blinked. He drew in a deep breath when Julio moved farther away. He normally felt frozen when he had an episode, but now his skin was on fire.

He shook Seb off and stepped back, almost tripping over Meg on the floor.

“I’m sorry,” she sobbed out. “It’s fine. I’m sorry.”

Julio huffed out a breath. “Shit.” He looked down at where Meg cowered and his shoulders relaxed. “Fuck, baby. You don’t have anything to wear, do you?” He groaned. “That’s why you’re so upset.”

Seb’s face twisted, but he faced Naz so no one else saw it.

The way Meg cried and curled in on herself made it impossible for Naz to concentrate. And he really didn’t need anyone naked right now.

Naz pulled off his shirt, bending and dropping it over her head. It was way too big on her, but it made her next sob hitch and stop. Her eyes lifted to his, and he felt a gut punch from the shimmering there that made the amber color even brighter.

Naz couldn’t be there anymore. He walked away, deciding another trip to the trees was in order. He’d stay out there until he’d battled the memories clawing at him and hope like hell no one was fucking when he got back.

Chapter 5

Naz’s discomfort in only his lightweight undershirt drove him back to the warehouse.

Most of the crew holed up in the trailers at night. Naz passed Rocks on the way, and the giant of a man gave him a wide berth before settling along the fence. Rocks was a night owl, so he kept an eye out while the rest of the crew slept.

Julio waited for Naz in the warehouse. At least it’d been long enough that his pupils were no longer pinpricks.

Julio sighed when Naz stared at him.“Look, I was all fucked up. I shouldn’t have come at you like that,” he rushed out with a grimace.

A nod or a head shake didn’t feel right, but the shrug Naz ended up giving him wasn’t much better.

Julio snorted. “Shit, man, you really don’t say anything. Maybe that’s why that look you can give is so effective. Jefe was right about you.”

Naz didn’t give a shit what Julio’s cartel father had to say about him, but Ramiro would probably be pleased. He could charge them more.

Julio stepped closer, his hand reaching for Naz’s shoulder and squeezing it. “I can’t have you doing that again, though,” he warned.

The contact on Naz’s skin made his stomach muscles tighten, and he shrugged Julio off.

Julio stepped back, looking wary. “We good?”

Naz nodded. It was the fastest way to be left alone.

Julio chuckled. “She’s a piece of work, isn’t she? Making the two of us fight?” He shook his head. “Too bad. She has fantastic cunt. Not that it matters to you.” He lifted an eyebrow. “It doesn’t, does it? You don’t want her?”

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