Page 30 of Hidden But Not Safe

The way he felt about Meg was different from anything he’d felt before. It was becoming a craving.

If Julio had wanted to kill her, Naz would have stepped in. He’d kill for her.

“No, we’re not friends,” she answered for him. Her body relaxed even more, husky drowsiness filling her voice. “But then, what are we?”

Her breathing deepened into sleep, which was for the best. Naz didn’t have an answer.

Chapter 11

Meg was still with him when Naz woke up. His arm was still around her waist, though her body had turned while they slept. She rested on the side of her hip, one arm trapped between them and the other wrapped around his neck.

She’d drooled a wet spot onto his shirt.

His chin lowered to the top of her head, and his fingers tensed with the need to pull her closer, which was ridiculous. She was already close enough.

The morning had grown late. He never slept in, and dread curled into his neck, making it feel stiff.

He lifted his head and met Julio’s gaze. He stood over them, staring down at them.

“You two really do cuddle. Shit. Never pegged her for the clingy type.” Julio snorted. “Better you than me.”

Meg’s stomach muscles flexed under Naz’s arm, but her breathing remained slow and even.

“I don’t mind as long as it remains this sappy shit, but get her out of here for now. We’ve got dealers coming.” His eyes traced her body, and satisfaction curled over his face. “No surprise she’s exhausted after all I did to her.” His gaze took in the untouched pharmacy bag. “But make sure she takes the pill.”

The other guys were there as well, some of their gazes flicking toward Naz, but when Julio crossed over to them, they began acting busy.

Naz lifted Meg into his arms as he rose and strode out of the warehouse.

“I can walk,” she said dully, but her arm had curled tighter around his neck and didn’t loosen.

Naz didn’t put her down, but he let her open the trailer door. The sound of it shutting behind them somehow felt like a slap. He crossed the trailer to the room she shared with Julio, but he didn’t ease her down to the bed. He liked the way she felt in his arms.

Her face nuzzled into his neck. Then her sigh brushed along his skin. “It shouldn’t hurt.”

Shouldn’t. Which meant it did. Naz wished he had words to ease her pain, but they’d just be meaningless anyway. There was nothing to say.

“I knew he didn’t like me. He just likes to fuck me. If I keep fucking up, he won’t even like that enough to keep me.” She took a deeper breath to steady her hitching voice. “It’s fine. That’s what I’m used to.”

She lifted her head, and Naz let her legs lower to the ground. She supported her own weight but continued to grip his neck and looked into his eyes. “This between us? This thing we don’t really have?” She sighed, letting go. “This is what will hurt me.”

Her words stole the breath from his lungs. He shook his head. He never wanted to hurt her.

She reached out, gripping his chin to stop his denial. “You don’t want to fuck me, and you’re not my friend. I get that now.” She released him, and the warmth from her fingers didn’t linger but drained away. “Julio is going to give me away or sell me, probably soon. And I don’t need to miss you when that happens.”

Meg would be leaving. The thought of not seeing her again made him want to punch something, which was selfish. Her current situation wasn’t good for her. The next might be better.

Or it might be worse.

He wouldn’t be around to know either way.

She turned her back on him, crawling on top of the messy sheets and curling into herself. “Don’t take it personally, okay? And tell Julio I took the pill and I’m staying in here like he asked.”

Naz’s feet felt rooted to the stained carpet. Her eyes remained closed, and her breathing slowed.

He eventually turned around and returned to the warehouse.

There were no other issues distributing the rest of the drugs. Meg stayed tucked away in the trailer during every deal, and Julio was proud that he’d set her straight.

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