Page 9 of Ruthless Beasts

She didn’t answer, only shook her head at me. Her big green eyes held all the secrets she refused to tell. She didn’t seem hurt, though, despite being in a ball on the bathroom floor. “Are you sick?”

Obvious question, no one hangs around a toilet if they aren’t. She gave a single nod before pushing, raising enough to lean her back against the wall.

“It’s probably the stress and the drive. You’ll be right back to your old self tomorrow,” I promised, even when all the warning bells screamed that was a lie. I pushed aside my doubts and leaned over her. “I’m going to lift you up, okay? I’m just putting you on the bed. I will not hurt you.”

“No.” She shook her head. “I can walk.”

“If you could walk, you would have done so in the last few hours you’ve been here,” I pointed out.

“Few hours?” Her brows scrunched together in confusion.

Shit. Had she blacked out? I took out my phone and sent Adam a text.There is something going on with your wife. Want to meet us in her room?

His reply was almost instant.Handle it.

Well, fuck. I hadn’t signed up for this shit. Hell, I hadn’t signed up for a lot of the shit life handed me, yet here I was.

I looked down at the girl, her eyes sunken. “I think maybe you’re dehydrated. How about I put you to bed, then I will get some soup and maybe some crackers for you?”

“I’m fine.”

“Little girl, if that was the case, you wouldn’t be on the bathroom floor.” I bent down and scooped her up, ignoring her objections. “Your husband is preoccupied this evening, so I think we can get away with canceling dinner at six. But tomorrow you better be at breakfast.”

She didn’t fight me as I carried her. In fact, she leaned in, her head nearly resting on my shoulder, and that simple act did something to my heart, squeezing it harder than I thought it would. How long had it been since I held someone like this? How long had it been since I allowed myself to?

She’s Adam’s wife. I knew this. But I couldn’t help but close my eyes for a moment and take in the warmth of her body as she aligned with mine.

At the bed, I used one hand to pull the cover back before placing her on the mattress. After she was snug with the surrounding covers, I spoke again. “I’ll be back.”

I didn’t wait for her to answer. I doubted she would anyway. I was still the enemy. She was still our captive. And it wouldn’t matter how nice I was to her. We’d never be friends. I shut her door on the way out, then went straight to Adam’s office.

One knock was all I offered before I twisted the knob. I didn’t care that he and Ace were mid conversation; I spoke over them. “That is your wife, and it’s your duty to care for her.”

“She’s fine.” He waved me off.

“She isn’t fine,” I argued. “I walked into her room to find her in a ball on the bathroom floor. She is on the verge of dehydration. She’s sick. And you don’t seem to care much.”

“There's been a lot of action today. A lot of death.” Adam leaned back in the chair. “I’m sure that’s got her nerves in a mess.”

“Sure,” I snapped. I would not be the one to address that fact that I thought it was more than just nerves. His mind was set. I could tell by the hardness in his jaw. He wanted nothing to do with her, didn’t want to help at all. “I canceled dinner tonight. Thought you’d be glad.”

“I wasn’t hungry.”

“Hm,” I responded sarcastically, “maybe it’s the nerves.”

His chair squeaked as he turned his attention fully toward me. “Do you have something to say?”

“What?” I looked around, pretending to look for people. “Me? No. I definitely don’t think my best friend is being a complete and total jackass.” I pushed off the doorframe. “If you need me, I’ll be the person getting your wife some soup and electrolytes.”

“Merc— “

I ignored him. Fuck him and his attitude. He got himself into this mess, and I couldn’t wait to see it all crumble around him. He may not like her now, but I gave it a month tops, and a woman’s presence in this place would soften him. His stubbornness was no match for a female’s, and I’d gladly watch the pieces of his exterior armor fall.

CHAPTER FOUR

ACE

Interesting.

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