Page 125 of Finders Reapers

Maddox retracted his hand with the speed of a snake about to strike. “Not so fast.”

“From what I have heard, Fletcher does not mindsharing.” Rome snickered, cough-laughing into his fist.

Fletcher narrowed his eyes. “I drove all day.”

“As did I.” Maddox gave him a look.

“As attractive as this is—” Jamal waved his hand between Maddox and Fletcher. “—surely the room should be offered to the lady. Lest she has to spend the night in a room with a bunch of hooligans such as yourselves.”

“Valentina needs to be protected.” Maddox pointed out.

“If memory serves, you were the one that was attacked, Soldier.” Rome slanted him a look.

“Damn. You woke up and chose violence today,” I reached out and jabbed Rome in the ribs. “Calm down. I don’t mind sharing with the guys.”

Rome’s lip pursed.

“Not like that. Jeez,” I laughed.

“Maddox is right. Valentina shouldn’t be alone right now.” Fletcher adjusted his cat ears before ultimately pulling them off his head. “Charon made that very clear.”

“Valentina and I will share the single,” Maddox informed us sternly. His tone brokered no argument. “We’ll get some food in, eat together in the big room, and then settle down for the night.”

Everyone agreed with his plan before I could say another word.

We got Chinese takeout, ate in the larger room, and camped out over the two king-size beds before cutting the evening short.

It had been a long day, and even though we were all dead, we were also dead-tired.

Mine and Maddox’s room was on the other side of the complex. With three separate single-story buildings surrounding a courtyard of scrub and rockery. A curvy path bisected the center of the desert garden, lined with glowing solar lights to mark the way.

Like a funeral procession, we walked in silence towards the single room at the far edge of the hotel. I didn’t dare say a word. Not even to ask how Maddox felt about the wasted trip to Beatty.

It wasn’t until he palmed the keycard as we approached the door that Maddox spoke to me.

“I’ll take the couch.” He said. “You can have the bed.”

“Sure,” I shrugged.

“I thought you’d be more comfortable around fewer people.”

“I’m getting used to it. I think.” My lip twitched in a smile, which Maddox returned.

Once the light on the keypad turned from red to green, Maddox held open the door and gestured for me to enter. I paused, remembering the last time that Maddox and I had entered a room alone together only to find a demon dog waiting for both of us.

As if the same memory had sprung to the forefront of his mind as well, Maddox chuffed a laugh, dipping his chin to his chest and shaking his head as he heaved his bag over his shoulder and entered the room first.

I waited awkwardly in the hallway, rocking on my heels.

“It’s all good,” Maddox called out.

“Awesome,” I muttered as I walked over the threshold and shut the door behind me. I caught a glimpse of marble tiles and a glass shower divider in the first room to the left. I immediately decided that I was having a shower come hell or high water. The scent of the car journey clung to me and made me feel crusty AF. Plus, the smell of Reynolds’s house wouldn’t leave my mind, even though we had left it behind in the middle of the desert.

I shuddered.

“Do you mind if I watchLetterman?” Maddox reclined on the bed and reached for the remote.

“Go for it,” I waved my hand dismissively. “I’m going to shower.”

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