Page 83 of Lamb

Jax didn’t realize how true his words were.

Except I’d never know.

Ash was mine, and I’d never let her go.

Till death do we part.

And hell, we reunite.

Istared at my warped reflection, the bars of the holding cell widening the sharp contours of my jaw and cheekbones. “I think something is wrong here.” I folded my arms over my chest, exchanging a frown with my distorted self. “Call me an idiot but—”

“You’re an idiot,” Jax cut in, a smirk wide and proud on his face.

“But,” I ignored him, “I think we’ve got this muddled up.”

I stared across at Wolf, his firm, shameless face tucked between his shoulders in a shrug, his visage blocked by several metal bars. Then I looked down at the floor where the bars interrupted; Wolf and Jax on one side, and myself and Ash on the other.

“It’s getting dangerous,” Wolf explained. “It’s already leaked that she’s alive.” He tossed a chin nod toward Ash, who stood quietly, watching the situation unfold. “Since we’re the ones that covered that up, bad attention will start coming our way.”

He then swung his finger around to Ash, who threw back a crooked eyebrow, defiance radiating from her own crossed arms, mimicking his posture. Regardless of the situation and height difference, I knew these two would never see eye to eye.

“I don’t need to explain why you’re in there.”

Ash didn’t argue that point. She just rolled her eyes before stalking further into the cell.

“You, on the other hand”—he swung back to me—“your brain goes to your dick when you’re around her, and since you’ve made it abundantly clear that you aren’t letting her go anywhere out of your sight”—Wolf sighed—“you’re stuck in there, too.”

“I understand that, but—”

“You’re an idiot,” Wolf cut me off. “A clueless, fucking hot-headed, immature idiot.”

My mouth dropped open, a hand to my chest.

Well, that came out of nowhere.

“Either get that out of your system or get comfy,” Wolf finished, looking a tad bit smug at his reply. He didn’t give me a chance to respond or argue any further. He marched up the stairs with Jax, leaving Ash and me alone in the basement.

“I don’t understand,” I grumbled, staring at the vacant space where the huge Russian had stood. “I don’t see what he stands to achieve by leaving me in here. If people are looking for us, they need me.”

Ash’s sharp laugh stole my attention. I whirled to where she sat on one of the cots in the corner, her legs tucked beneath her, head lolled in her palm.

“Are you pretending to be clueless, or are you actually an idiot?”

I frowned.

“I thought you were at least self-aware.” Ash sighed, unfolding her legs and rising to a stand. She was still a little unsteady on her feet. Despite having finished her detox cycle, it still exhausted her, and I knew the thirst for a drink still plagued her. But her body was no longer collapsing in on itself, so the only way was up. Physically, at least.

“Your textbooks.” Ash took a step toward me. “Your reactions.” Another step. “Your emotions.” She now stood close enough to touch me, her scent close enough to smell. Her eyessought mine, sharp and intelligent, as they bore into my mind. “You always choose logic over emotion every time.”

“I’m aware of my own nature,” I answered, knowing now what she was up to. I closed the distance between us, reaching up to stroke aside the hair framing her face. With my fingers, I trailed her cool skin and saw the goosebumps prickle over her exposed neck and shoulders where the collar of my shirt hung low against her collarbone. “I know what I have and what I …lack.”

“I highly doubt that.” Ash shook her head, her voice gentle and tempered. She pressed against me, her chest pressed into mine, our warmth mixing. “You are not as empty as you think you are.”

My brows creased, but it was in pity, not in confusion. I opened my mouth to answer, but Ash didn’t stop.

“What about me?” Her eyes searched mine, something frenzied filling them. “Am I just an obsession to you or …?”

“Are you asking if I love you?” A bitter smirk twisted my lips. “Again?”

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