Page 13 of Hot Chocolate & Hitmen

“He never had the opportunity to get therapy for his time in active duty. I could see him spiraling every day, so I suggested seeing a therapist.” I smile as the images of his recovery replay in my mind. “She was really good for him. Although the triggers never fully went away, he did find solace in working at the homeless and women shelters in the area. He also liked to work at the children's home, playing with them and teaching them basic skills.”

“He sounds like a wonderful man,” Atlas says as he reaches out to tuck a stray hair behind my ear. Glancing up at him, I fight back the tears that want to escape. I miss him so much.

“Yeah, he was.” My voice comes out quiet, giving me their undivided attention. “I suppose that’s why it doesn't come as a shock to me. Dad could be extremely violent when he was triggered. There was no sign of the kind, caring, and loving man he was when he was lost in his own head. Yet, any other time of the day, he was a giant teddy bear. He was the guy that everyone turned to for help. The listening ear, the supporting hand. Everyone loved him. And I suppose that’s what I see in you guys. You may wear a dark and menacing mask, but I can see beneath that veneer.” I grin as they all regard me, looking a little shell-shocked. “As much as you like to be the big bad guys, you’re teddy bears deep inside.”

“I wouldn’t be so sure about that, Little One.” Teddy offers with a sultry gaze that has my thighs clenching together, the threat clear in his eyes.

Getting up from his seat, he moves around the counter and stalks towards me. At any other time, I would have been preening at the way he regards me, but I notice the altered gait and the slight wince he gives. Pushing out of my seat, I step up to him.

“Sit your butt down and show me where you’re hurt,” I demand, pointing at the seat behind me, gritting my teeth.

Confusion contorts his face. “How did you kn-”

“Sit.”

A whistle sounds out. “Our Sugar sure is a feisty one.”

Grinning, Teddy keeps his eyes on me as he moves past to take a seat. “We’ll have to test that theory soon.”

Oh, great glittery garland.A blush creeps up my cheeks at the thought of how they could test that theory. Of course, knowing that my cheater of an ex is somewhere here in the cabin acts as a bucket of ice-cold water to my libido pretty darn quickly.

Focusing on more important things, I coax Teddy to remove his jacket so I can check on him. I take it from him, hang it on the hook by the entrance alongside his winter coat, and return to find him struggling to peel off his black long-sleeved tee. It’s clear the fabric is stuck to the wound, but he doesn’t seem to care.

“Don’t force it,” I admonish, stopping him from ripping it away and re-opening the wound. Using a damp cloth, I slowly work at it, prying it carefully away to find bruising across his ribs and a laceration across his back. I grind my jaw in order to try to stop myself from tearing him a new one.

“Why didn’t you say anything about this before?”

“Because it’s nothing. It doesn’t even need stit-”

“Yes it does. I’d probably say ten.At least. You’re just lucky it’s already stopped bleeding.”

Grabbing the first aid kit where I left it after tending to Atlas, I create a sterile environment, wash my hands and set to cleaning and stitching the wound. All the while the guys are silent, yet I can feel their eyes boring into me.

“While I’m here, does anyone else have any other injuries?” Fixing them all with a glare, they wither before me, shaking their heads in the negative. “Good.”

After a minute of silently watching me, Teddy speaks up. “Where did you learn to do that?”

“I was a trained nurse and aspiring field medic.”

“Was?” Atlas questions, his fists clench again, indicating he knows exactly where I’m going with this.

I sigh. “Yeah. Jason-” I clear my throat, keeping my focus squarely on Teddy’s wound. “Jason wanted me to be able to live a life of luxury and thought that was what I wanted to do, so he encouraged me to be a stay-at-home wife. At least, that's what he told me. Of course, it was all just a lie. I'm starting to seenow that he was just jealous...Territorial? I don't know,” I say in exasperation, shaking my head.

It sucks that I’m only just realizing all of that now. But as the saying goes, love is blind.

“He made enough to keep the both of us afloat, so suggested that I spend my days at home and bake to my heart's content.”

“Well, you do seem to enjoy baking,” Key chirps as he glances at the baked goodies piled in the corner that I made while tending to breakfast this morning. Noticing that fact without a hint of malice, his reaction garners a small smile from me at least.

“Yeah, I do. In fact, I need to make some more cookies now there are more of us here.” Distracted for a second, I bite my lip as I run through all the ingredients I got delivered. There should be enough to go around.

“Did you ever get the life you wanted?” Teddy inquires with a steel edge to his voice.

I chuckle dryly, ignoring the ache in my chest. “No. I may have had all the shiniest things and every material item a girl could ever want. But all I really wanted was for him to love me. For him to respect me and my wants and desires.”

Blinking rapidly to dispel the burn in my eyes, I finish up the final sutures. Placing a waterproof dressing on Teddy’s back, I continue.

“We live in a small town, so everyone knows everything. Jason was never abusive towards me, but he would get jealous and overprotective if I left the house during the day without him. Even inside the house, he still had a bigger say in things.” I glance down at my hands, staring at the blood on my gloves as I recall the memories. “When I got lonely, I asked him if I could have a dog. I’ve always wanted a dog, and I didn’t think for one second that he’d deny me. I thought he just wanted me to be happy. Only he flat-out refused, saying he didn’t want itwrecking the house. I didn’t think at all about that at the time. Maybe I was too pushy and-”

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