Page 68 of Savage Escape

“Whatever. We’re doing video games next time.”

“Okay, get out. It’s my turn.” Maddox shooed Kade out of the room.

“Your turn for what?”

“Hangin’ out.”

“Withme?”

“No, with the bedside table. Of course, withyou.”

“Oh.” Caden was shocked, but tried to be all kinds of nonchalant about it. “Okay. What’s all that?” Caden motioned to the baskets in his hands.

“We’re having a spa day. These heathens only let me do a spa day with them every once in a blue moon.”

23

CADEN

Caden couldn’t sleep.

Mostly because every time she closed her eyes, she saw her baby sister getting murdered. Which was justgreat.

It had been two weeks since she’d woken up in the Savage household.

Two weeks of home-cooked meals, board games, family dinners, shopping trips, video games, movie marathons, spa days, and just general fucking around.

Every time she even thought about leaving the all-consuming camaraderie and the Savage family as a whole, they sucked her back in. That and Reid gave her a disapproving doctorlookevery time she even glanced at an exit.

Caden turned over again and punched her pillow until it laid better under her head.

The Savages themselves were all ridiculous and stupidly lovable. Ellen and Bobby treated her like she was their long-lost daughter and acted as though they couldn’t fathom life without her. While their boys treated her as part of the family. As if she’d been there from the start.

It was disconcerting and intoxicating.

It had been a long time since she’d been a part of a family.

Giving up on sleeping in her own bed, Caden stood, grabbed her pillow, and made her way down the hall.

“Nate.” She pushed the door open and whispered into the darkness. “Nate.”

“Caden?” His voice was groggy, like he’d just startled from deep sleep.

Caden wasted no time. She lifted the covers and crawled into the bed beside him. His arms wrapped around her and pulled her flush against him.

He was warm, so fucking warm. And solid. Caden felt her muscles relax in his hold.

“Why can’t you sleep?” His voice was in her ear and alert now.

“I see my dad when I close my eyes lately.” Caden had no intention of telling him what was really on her mind, but something about being held in the dark by his warm solid arms made her tell the truth.

“That can’t be pleasant.”

The dark pressed in around her, but she was warm and Nathan’s chest was pushed up against her back. His arms were wrapped around her middle. She was safe here. Safe and protected and so fucking warm.

“She was six when he killed her. Just a baby.” The words came out unbidden.

“Quinn?”

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