Page 37 of Hidden But Not Safe

He turned his head toward her, finding her so very close and grinning, like she was happy to be near him. Her lips had a cut on the outside, one he’d noticed but knew better than to ask about.

Her eyes flicked to his, laughing cat eyes, unlike any he’d looked into before.

“I didn’t mean look at me.” Her giggle slid in with the words, soothing him. “But that works.” She leaned forward, kissing his cheek.

Naz froze when her lips brushed over his skin. Everything else faded away. He waited for his memories’ claws to scrape him raw, but there were none. No one had ever kissed his cheek before.

He jerked away, confusion filling his mind. She’d already pulled back, turning his phone to show him the picture of her kiss. He looked the same as he did in all his pictures, unsmiling.

He reached for the phone, knowing he should delete it.

“Nuh-uh!” She hopped off the table to dance a step away, grinning down at his phone. “I’m going to make it your background. How do I do that?” Her tongue stuck out slightly as she concentrated on his phone, her fingers poking at the screen.

Naz wanted to grab her and haul her close. Was it possible to absorb someone into your skin?

Across from him, Seb snorted in amusement.

Next to him, Miguel scowled as he focused on the drugs.

Naz’s phone vibrated in her hands.

“Oh, shoot.” Meg’s smile fell as she held the phone out. “I didn’t mean to read it. The message just popped up because I was clicking and—”

Naz slid his fingers around her wrist, squeezing gently to reassure her before he took his phone.

With Diego’s text finally coming, he was going to burst out of his skin, he felt so full.

That it was a message from Ramiro instead killed that rising hope. A spike of panic rose at the name, but it settled as he read. Ramiro wasn’t telling him something happened to Diego. It was just a side job.

“You have to go,” Meg murmured. Naz started to nod, but she was staring at the ground, her other hand pressed over the wrist he’d touched.

Naz stared at her curled fingers. They brushed over her skin as if repeating his caress before dropping to her side.

Her head lifted, and the smile was back, though it was different from before. “I can go tell Julio for you. He’s in the trailer.”

“What are you going to tell me?” Julio asked, approaching the tables.

A chill ran along Naz’s spine. He hadn’t noticed his entrance. He’d been too focused on Meg to see anything else.

Meg looked away from Julio, focusing instead on hopping back onto the corner of the table.

Julio’s eyes narrowed on her before shifting to Naz.

Naz turned his phone. It was easiest, and the message wasn’t incriminating. Ramiro was too careful for that.

Julio shrugged. “We can spare you right now. Get gone.” He elbowed past Naz, pushing into Meg’s space. “Sad about it, baby? I’d entertain you, but I’ve got shit to do.” He gripped her ponytail, tugging her head back so she looked up at him. “You’re fucking needy if you’re pouting over losing his attention.”

Her lips spread. “Jealous?”

Julio’s grip tightened as his jaw flexed, and then he released her with a laugh, stepping away. “Of him? Fuck no. I’m just annoyed I’ll have to deal with your shit.”

Naz watched her eyes lose focus as her smile froze.

Miguel chuckled. “I can keep her busy.”

Naz’s gut twisted as Julio laughed along with him.

“What if—”

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