Page 65 of Without Fail

Jennifer curled up in the bed next to him, placing a palm on his chest and Syn continued holding his hand.

“Do we know who it was?” Ryker asked Syn.

“No, but I heard a rumor that it was organized,” Syn said.

“Like…organized crime? Are you talking Armani?” Ryker frowned. It kind of made sense if that were the case. Winchester Armani had to be pissed that his son was missing.

“No. More like organized officials.”

“FBI,” Ryker said.

“Maybe,” Syn said. “But something is off.”

“I’m sure you’ll find the answer,” Jennifer said, hugging Ryker tightly.

She changed the subject and they talked about nonsensical things that didn’t really matter, but Ryker was grateful for the distraction.

A while later, the hospital door suddenly shoved open and Marshal stepped inside. The big man’s body seemed to fill up the room and suck the air from Ryker’s lungs.

“Please give us the room,” Marshal murmured low, holding Ryker’s gaze across the distance.

Syn squeezed his fingers before standing and guiding Jennifer out of the room with promises of cafeteria food and coffee.

Marshal closed the door and walked to his bedside. Ryker kept his eyes locked with the man’s and when Marshal stood over him, he craned his neck back to stare upward.

He turned his head slightly so the good side of his profile was exposed. Call it vanity, but he needed to be attractive to Marshal.

Marshal, however, was having none of that and sank down to the side of the bed, crowding him over before placing a very careful palm on the scarred part of his face and turning his head to face him.

“Don’t ever hide from me,” Marshal ordered, the words all growly and possessive.

Ryker shivered and the hand slipped from his cheek to cup the back of his neck. He was lifted upward and Marshal’s head tipped down. What he thought would be a soul-sucking kiss, turned out not to be.

The man’s perfectly trimmed jawline pressed against the good side of his face and Marshal’s lips brushed against his ear.

Oh fuck!

Ryker gulped back the words and fisted the sheet. Marshal’s arm slid around his neck and he was crushed gently against the man’s chest. Sucking in a quick breath, Ryker slipped his arms up and around Marshal’s neck, holding on for dear life.

From the moment Marshal had saved him from the kidnappers all those years ago, they’d been destined for each other. His only regret was that it had taken them all these years to get here.

And those hurtful words Marshal had said to Bishop kept coming back to his mind.

He hit the side of his fist against Marshal’s back. “You’ve got some explaining to do.”

“I know.” Marshal’s voice came out roughly. “But not right now.”

Ryker eased back and Marshal’s hands rested on his shoulders.

“You lied with those words to Bishop.”

“I did.”

“And I want to know why.”

“And I’ll tell you, but not yet.”

What secret was Marshal hiding? Ryker shoved the question aside for the moment.

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