Page 14 of Shadow's Edge

“I get nightmares,” I admitted, still staring at the floor, refusing to meet his gaze. I didn’t want to see pity. Ihatedpity.

My nightmares weren’t just about missions or the shit I’d seen in combat. They were also about the things thatcame before.

Jagger’s boots came into my line of sight, and then he squatted in front of me, his hands lifting to cup my face, forcing me to look at him.

“That’s understandable,” he said, his tone even, steady. “Duke showed us some of the shit y’all have had to do. And we’ve seen the footage from your time away. I get it.”

He said it so easily, like it wasn’t a big deal, but I knew better. We’dsee, because sometimes, my reactions weren’t just thrashing or waking up in a cold sweat. Sometimes, they wereviolent.

Jagger studied me, something unreadable in his expression. “Is it just about that? Or is it about…you know?”

My whole body went rigid.

I could admit it to myself. And I was sure the guys knew that I had nightmares abouther. But I wasn’t going to lay that shit bare forhim.

Whatever he saw on my face made his mouth firm into a hard line. He nodded once, pushing to his feet, then held out his hand. “Let’s do this.”

I hesitated but eventually took his hand, leading him around to my side of the bed while he stripped down to his boxers. I wasn’t bashful. I had spent enough time around men, in situations where dignity and pride had to take a backseat to getting changed or cleaned up. Butthiswas different.

Because it washim.

As he pulled off his shirt, my eyes traced the ink covering his chest and shoulders. I knew his back bore the club’s patch, a permanent declaration of his loyalty. He was built solid, something I’d already gathered during today’s workout. But seeing him like this, muscles shifting under his skin, was an entirely different experience.

Once we were both settled, I decided to lay down some ground rules.

“I don’t spoon,” I warned. “If I wake up and you’re in my personal space, Iwillcause you pain.”

Jagger rolled over, turning off the light before shifting behind me with a sleepy sigh. “What?”

“Spooning,” I deadpanned. “Where your body heat melts the skin off my back, and I wake up thinking I’m burning alive.”

He snorted, then, to my horror,moved closer, pressing his chest against my back.

“So noted,” he murmured, amusement clear in his voice. “Just so you know, I’ve never actuallysleptwith a woman before. I’m a solo sleeper. Well, unless you count that time me andGauge got wrecked and woke up where we’d passed out…fucking spooning.”

Iburstout laughing, unable to stop the mental image of Gauge, the massive beast of a man, wrapped around Jagger like a teddy bear.

“Photos?” I asked between laughs.

“What do you think?” he drawled.

Oh, there were photos.

MC members could act like aggressive assholes all they wanted, but no way inhellwould they pass up an opportunity to capture a moment like that. Ihadto find them.

“Sleep, baby,” Jagger murmured. His voice was softer now, a little heavier with exhaustion.

Just before I let sleep take me, an image flickered through my mind—the baby face of the senator’s daughter. Tomorrow was going to be hell, we had to get her back because I knew exactly what would happen if we lost her trail.

And I couldn’t failanotherbaby.

JAGGER

I woke to the sensation of the bed jolting to the left, followed by a heavy thump and Kyle’s muffled groan. Whatever was happening had nudged her farther from me. Fumbling in the dimness, I reached over and switched on the lamp. The soft glow revealed Kyle gasping for breath, her arms tightly crossed over her face as she curled into a fetal position on her back.

I was about to reach across the bed to try and wake her up without scaring her when she screamed.

“No, Mom. Please stop.” She punctuated it with a wheeze, and her hands went to her neck.

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