Page 132 of Runaway Hearts: Seduced by Danger

Kai pouts. “About a thousand.”

“Cuts? Scratches? Gunshot?”

He shakes his head and chuckles. “No, love. I’m all right. I just couldn’t sleep last night. I was so hungry, I ate all the crab legs left.”

“That’s all right.” I guide Kai toward the tiny bathroom, my hand firm on the small of his back. “Come on, you need a shower and sleep.”

He hesitates but doesn’t resist, his body swaying slightly as exhaustion draws him down.

I point to the toilet seat. “Sit,” I order, and he does.

His eyes never leave mine as I rummage through the closet and pull out a clean towel and washcloth.

He watches me curiously, like he’s memorizing every movement. “You always take care of me.” His voice quivers with fatigue and admiration.

I give him a professional nurse smile. “I can’t say you’re the best patient.”

I ignore the rising heat in my cheeks, focusing instead on turning on the shower. But as my foot taps on the shower mat, Kai squints. He glares at the floor, then crouches and lifts the mat, revealing a latch hidden beneath.

His gaze flicks to mine. “An escape trap?” he asks, a muscle in his neck tensing.

I nod, incapable of answering with words.

“And there’s a secret exit through the kitchen cabinets,” he says matter-of-factly.

I nod again, confirming his suspicions.

“The name on the electricity bill says M. Ramirez. Your mother’s name.”

Oh. He saw that.

I should’ve told him. “My second one, too.”

Kai stands up straight and analyzes me with a peculiar gleam in the back of his stare.

“Why do you have a safe house?” he asks, but as soon as he’s done talking, all his muscles stiffen, and his right eyelid twitches.

Because of Eric.

“Are you mad?” I ask in a small voice.

He looks mad.

A faint smile replaces the tension in his mouth. “Not mad atyou.”

I chew on my bottom lip, contemplating whether to unravel the layers of my escape plan from my ex-boyfriend or let Kai put the pieces together.

He grunts. “You planned on moving here. Escaping the shit worm and building a new life.”

A relieved sigh escapes my nose. “I thought about it.”

But Kai’s tired and covered in dirt and dried blood. This isn’t going to cut it for this conversation. I need my man to be sharp to talk about Eric drugging me for three and a half years because Kai might go on a rampage over this. But given our current situation—in hiding—I’ll postpone the inevitable by staying quiet.

I take a deep breath, my fingers gripping the washcloth. “Can we focus on getting you clean first?”

His eyes soften, and he nods, but a flicker of guilt shadows tired eyes. “Okay. I’ll behave.”

He stands and steps toward me, his movements slow and deliberate. My fingers fumble slightly as they reach for the hem of his T-shirt, pulling it over his head. A gasp escapes me when bruises and scrapes reveal themselves on his torso.

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