Page 42 of Hidden But Not Safe

“You really punched that big guy?” Meg hissed in his ear.

Naz didn’t deny it. He didn’t remember exactly what he’d done during the scuffle.

“Sometimes you really surprise me, Ignacio.” Meg hummed in her throat, as if extending the sound of his full name. She released him to pick up the helmet and let him buckle it beneath her chin.

“I think that guy has a soft spot for you,” she murmured, her chin moving against his fingers. “Just like me.”

Naz’s phone vibrated as he climbed onto the motorcycle. He pulled it out to see a new text from Ramiro.

‘Summer says she likes Meg. Be careful.’

Naz shoved the phone away. A short life had once been what he’d hoped for. With Meg’s arms wrapped around his waist, the idea no longer felt like the escape it once had.

Chapter 15

No issues cropped up with the dealers the next time around. Most of them had heard about the two dealers they’d killed and chose to be on their best behavior.

Meg stayed in the trailer the whole time, and Naz saw her less. It helped him to focus, but it also kept him on edge.

He didn’t feel settled until he held Meg at night. It was a problem on the nights that Julio kept her until nearly dawn. Rocks would come and kick them out before Naz fully calmed, and he felt like shit the whole next day.

He hadn’t slept well that night either. Nightmares crept in and tightened his throat. The relived memories were so much worse than having just their voices in his head during the day.

He woke with a whimper in his throat that it took effort to swallow.

Meg’s weight against him helped to calm his racing heart. Her dark, wavy hair sprawled across his shoulder and tickled his neck. He brushed it away with his hand, but the thick feel of it made his palm tingle. He brushed over her hair again, deciding he liked the feel of it. His fingers caught on a tangle, and he carefully worked around it as he continued his slow stroking.

Meg’s breathing changed. He knew he’d woken her and should stop, but he didn’t really want to. She rubbed his smooth head sometimes. This wasn’t really that different, though it felt like it was.

She didn’t pull away, instead pretending to be asleep. He decided that meant she didn’t mind his touch either.

When she pressed her face into his chest to smother a groan, he froze. Her groan wasn’t one of pain. Her body shifted into him, as if she could get closer, and one of her thighs lifted over his, making his leg press between hers.

Nerves skittered along his spine when he realized how she was responding. A lightheadedness seeped over him, and shadows narrowed his vision. He needed to leave. He needed to leave right now.

“Well, isn’t this cozy?” Julio said from the bedroom doorway.

He stared at her leg, at the way Naz’s shirt, which she always changed into before sleeping with him, had ridden up her thigh.

Meg didn’t scramble and jump away. She rolled to her back away from Naz, the shirt riding up higher as she stretched her arms over her head, as if just waking up. Her black underwear matched the black of his shirt, but it also looked completely different, especially with her tanned skin against the curve between her legs.

Naz felt like his skin was being peeled off.

Julio didn’t meet his gaze but stared between her legs, his lip curling. “Wake up horny, baby?” he asked.

“Only if you are. We did plenty last night.” Meg laughed and then let out a surprised gasp, scrambling off the bed. “Oh, is that for me?”

Naz forced his narrowed gaze to focus on the red clothing she took from Julio’s hand. The material unrolled to reveal a dress, one that had a short skirt and strings.

Meg didn’t like dresses. Or at least, she’d once told him she didn’t, but she was beaming up at Julio. “Thank you! It’s gorgeous.” Her smile was still in place when she turned her head to look into Naz’s gray eyes. “Red is my second favorite color,” she murmured, as if the words were just for him.

Julio grabbed her neck, jerking her toward him. “Watch your fucking mouth. Where’s the gratitude?”

“Thank you!” she rushed out, her hands tightening on the dress as if to hold on to something. “I said thank you! It’s perfect, really.”

Naz’s muscles had bunched, and his body felt like a wire pulled too tight and ready to spring.

Julio released her, and she stumbled back, catching herself against the bed.

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