Page 30 of Wrecked

“Aren’t you paying attention?”

“What?” He had started to feel stupid like he had missed something along the way.

“That is where we will take out Lincoln,” Crow said slowly.

“Why?”

“You said you needed my help to kill him.”

“No, I said I needed your help, but it’s to save someone.” Rebel licked his lips.

“Save someone?” Crow echoed blankly. “Who?”

“Angel. She’s sixteen. He’s holding her captive.” Rebel’s breath was coming fast and he felt like he was running while standing still. “He’s beating and fucking her.”

Rebel couldn’t tell what Crow was thinking, but he did recognize the flash of anger and contempt that swept over the man’s face.

“I promised Angel I would save her,” his voice cracked and he waved his hands.

“And I don’t know how to rescue her,” Rebel admitted even though it fucking sucked that he didn’t have the knowledge nor skills to get her out.

Crow seemed to understand his feelings and approached him slowly. Placing a warm hand on his shoulder, Rebel felt the strength all the way to his stomach.

He didn’t know why he was reacting to Crow so much this time around, but he was. Maybe it had been that last time he had been taken against his will and this time he had come voluntarily.

This time he was hyper-aware of Crow’s bigger physical frame, making him feel small, but also protected.

“Can you get me in?” Crow asked and it took a moment for Rebel to comprehend.

He shook his head. “No, you’d have to do an interview.”

“Is he hiring?”

“Not at the moment.”

“Okay, then we catch him at the club,” Crow said and turned away from him to pull the black long-sleeved shirt over his blond head. The muscles on the man’s back were miles wide and ripped. Crow had tattoos of black tree branches littering hisback, going down one side and up and over both arms. On his right arm birds took flight.

Rebel was impressed by the sight and stepped forward to touch his fingers lightly to one of the branches.

Crow froze beneath his touch and Rebel yanked his hand away, taking several steps to put distance between them.

Where the fuck had his courage gone?

“We can’t go to the club,” he scowled, reaching for the ever-ready anger as a shield.

“Have you ever gone before?”

“Every week,” he admitted.

“Let’s make a game plan in the morning,” Crow said, walking into the bathroom. “For now, call room service if you’re hungry and then we need to get some sleep.”

The shower flipped on and Rebel tore off the jacket and hurried over to grab the menu from the desk.

The next morning when Rebel came awake, he rolled over and sat up in the bed just as Crow came out of the steamy bathroom.

The man pulled on a light blue dress shirt from the closet and shrugged into it while gazing at him.

Rebel was sorry to see the muscles and tattoos covered up.