Page 35 of Bound By Valor

I blinked away the sudden blurriness and pressed my hands on his chest. He was all muscle and hard beneath my palms.

“I’m fine,” he whispered.

I stayed perfectly motionless, not a single muscle twitching.

“Leora, look at me. I’m fine,” his voice turned desperate. He seized my mouth with his, pulling me close until there was no space between our bodies. It was a kiss born of pure desperation. An attempt to bring me back from the haze I was in. I couldn’t move my lips, didn’t kiss him back. I just stood there, paralyzed by the picture of him lying in the sweltering heat behind the warehouse, bleeding out on the grass.

He broke away, his eyes scanning mine.

“Come back to me, baby.Breathe. I’m right here. I’m okay.”

His words finally put me out of my trance and I jerked to reality. He was fine. Zarek was fine. He wasn’t outside, bleeding to death. I cradled his face, seeking the warmth of his skin to assure myself of his presence, and the dam within me burst, releasing sobs that had been coiled tight in my chest. He pulled me against him and rubbed my back.

“Shh, it’s alright. I’ve got you.”

After a moment, I gently pushed against Zarek’s chest, my voice barely a whisper. “You need to get that wound cleaned properly,” I said, my eyes avoiding the raw gash on his arm.

Zarek nodded, a shadow of reluctance in his eyes.

I turned and hurried to my room, closing the door softly. Inside, I leaned against it, my body shaking with silent sobs. I buried my face in my hands, stifling the wails that threatened to escape.

EIGHTEEN

Leora

In the evening, the team gathered around the dining table, glasses in hand, trying to unwind. Logan, noticing my red-rimmed eyes, quipped, “What’s the matter, Leo, cat videos again?”

I forced a smile, my eyes briefly meeting Zarek’s before darting away.

Logan’s expression turned serious. “So, about this morning’s excitement—turns out our sniper friend was probably a hired gun. I’ve handed him over to the authorities.”

“Our hideout’s compromised, though. We’re moving to a new safe house tomorrow.” Kabir added.

The room filled with a tense silence, punctuated by the clink of glass as Dylan poured another whiskey.

“Sorry for being useless.” He mumbled and chugged his drink down.

“Relax, Dyl. You’re useless for another twenty-four hours,” Logan smiled at him mockingly and Dylanshoved him with his bad arm, only to wince and laugh.

“I guess I’m driving tomorrow?” Kabir asked, spinning the ice in his drink.

“Yep,” Logan patted on his shoulder.

Zarek kept his gaze locked on his glass.

Amelia was at the end of the table, absorbed in her own world. She alternated between tweaking components on her drone and tapping rapidly on her laptop, engrossed in her work.

I sat quietly, my gaze occasionally drifting to Zarek’s bandaged arm.

“Do you have a minute?” Zarek asked me hesitantly, just as I was about to pour myself a drink.

“I don’t know,” Logan grinned, “I’m pretty busy with this whiskey right now, Zarek.”

Zarek shook his head and gestured for me to follow him. With a glass in hand, he led the way to his room. Once inside, I snatched the glass from him and downed its contents in one swift gulp, the straight whiskey burning my throat.

“Uh, I was working on that,” his eyes met my glare, “but yeah, go ahead. Do you want another one?”

“It’s fine,” my hoarse voice surprised me. I hadn’t spoken since my very long breakdown in my room earlier.

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