Page 151 of Burn the Wild

Chuckling, Charlie pulls the blinds closed.

“How you feelin’?” Davis asks.

“Glad to be alive, that’s for damn sure.”

I shove a hand through my hair, sit up, and scan the room. The clock on the wall says four in the afternoon. My brothers sit in various positions around the bed. Their expressions border on amused and worried.

“How long was I out?”

Hands on his thighs, Davis pushes to standing. “Two days.”

“Jesus.”

“Only pissed the bed twice,” Wyatt adds.

“Fuck you.”

Wyatt and Charlie snicker.

That’s when the last few days hit me like a freight train.

“Reese.” I thrash in the sheet, jerk upright. “Where is she? Is she okay?”

“You’re back here, aren’t you?” Davis says. “She’s okay.”

Pride flares in my chest. Good girl. Good fucking girl.

I relax against the bed, only vaguely aware of Mouse nudging her head beneath my hand, where I give her an absentminded pet. “Where is she?” I ask, too relieved about Reese to be annoyed that she’s not the first one I see.

“Dakota has her helping out at the bakery,” Davis offers.

“What about the chickens?” Impatiently, I shake my head. “I gotta find her.” Davis and Charlie exchange looks of amusement.

Wyatt shoves a hand against my shoulder when I make a move to stand. “You got bit by a goddamn snake, man. Sit your ass down.”

I pull back the covers to look at my leg. White gauze wraps around my calf. A searing pain makes its way up my ankle and through my bloodstream.

“Doctor said it would be like that for a couple of weeks,” Charlie says when I hiss a breath. “Gotta move slow. Take it easy.”

I groan.

Davis nods gravely. “Came too goddamn close to puttingRest in Peace, Assholeon your tombstone.”

A serious silence falls.

Charlie’s jaw works. “I’m sorry, man.”

I hold his eyes. Give him a nod. “I know.”

And just like that, we’re good.

“About Reese,” Davis says. I stiffen. “I was wrong about her. She’s—”

“Fierce,” I finish. I look at my brothers. “If y’all see me, you’re gonna see Reese. So get right with it.”

Davis’s eyes widen. The corner of his mouth kicks up. “Holy shit. You love her.”

“Yeah,” I say, emotion clogging my throat. “I do.”

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