Page 67 of Run From Me

And only then did I feel the breeze on my ass. I jumped off the bike so fast Xander nearly knocked it over trying to reach for me. I was too busy pulling down the skirt and praying no one saw me. No one except the man standing in his damn underwear. I really wish I had a second to see him fight because a body like that? It was one thing to feel all that power on topof you, but to see him beating a man? I gave my a head a quick shake. That was not a logical thought.

“Calliope, what the fuck are you wearing?”

I didn’t have time to even wipe the drool from my chin as he yanked me into his nearly naked body. I sank into the heat of him, and I wasn’t admitting just how cold I’d I been.

“More clothes than you, Xander,” I shot back.

A deep laugh greeted my ears as I leaned against his chest.

“You think so, do you?”

His voice went low as he leaned down to my ear.

“For the love of god, tell me you’re wearing panties.”

When I looked up at him with one eyebrow lifted, I was certain it said everything.

“Fuck,” was all he said.

I turned my head at the squeal of metal. The rolling door rose again and the sound of two more bikes echoed off the walls of the factory.

The voices were all low, and I realized no one had paid much attention to me.

“Fuck,” Zeid said as he stopped next to Xander, “if that wasn’t a blatant set up.”

Xander was nodding and I took in Zeid’s attire. Same as Xander.

“Were you both fighting?”

I hadn’t paid much attention until now when I saw a new purple mark blooming against Xander’s ribs. I looked between the two of them. Xander clearly had taken a few hits, and Zeid seemed untouched.

“Zeid never got a chance. And stop staring at my brother.”

That wasn’t the first time I’d heard him say that. Brother. But they looked nothing alike. Unless looking like a mean bastard was a family trait. This time I was looking back and forth between them.

“Different dads?” I asked.

“Not in blood, Calliope. X, Cas, and I all share a bond far deeper than blood.”

Zeid nodded as I turned my chin up again to stare at Xander. Here in his arms was that betrayal of safety. I felt safe in his arms and could forget that I needed to remember to survive, and the two didn’t go hand in hand. Still I couldn’t find anger. I couldn’t find the pain or the hurt. Right now? The adrenaline of trying to make it through the last, however long it had been, was wearing off, and I just felt tired. Tired from fighting.

I wanted to just pretend right now.

“Oh, my god, Cali. Are you okay?”

I looked over my shoulder and Rylee was running toward me. All eyes were now on me, and I didn’t like the way it felt.

“I’m fine. Why?”

Cas sauntered up, pulling Rylee into his body.

“Your boys got two of the three guys that were dragging Calliope into the tent. They’re over there dismantling their guns. Calliope, can you explain what happened?”

I thought I would have a lot more time to pretend.

“Here’s a bag for your two.” Zeid grabbed the bag from Cas and pulled out a shirt and pants and then handed Xander the others. I hated that he let me go as he pulled the pants on over what I supposed were shorts even if they showed just as much as boxer briefs. I wrapped my arms around myself and closed my eyes like if I couldn’t see any of it, then none of it would be real. I wanted it to be real so badly, and then came the reminder that I was still owned by the Vipers and shit didn’t appear to be getting better.

“Cali?” Rylee’s hand rested on the back of mine before I looked up.

---