Page 46 of Séance

Wanting to break the tension between us, I grab a cloth and wipe the counters. “Where did the others go? You mentioned something about a mission?”

Keeping his back to me, Ellis fills the sink with water, squirting in some soap. “They went to make sure the little girl you helped is okay. I was able to hack into the hospital servers. Apparently, her mother has custody of her.

“She uses the child support money to support a nasty drug habit and often sends her daughter out to steal food. I was ableto locate her father. It seems he fought for custody, but he was moving out of state. He was awarded limited visitation.”

He turns and leans against the counter, his posture deceptively relaxed. “I sent him a copy of the police report and medical records, anonymously of course, and told him if he wants custody, he should leave immediately. James and Gunner were heading toward the hospital to make sure the mother doesn’t disappear with her before he arrives. I suspect while the mother is being questioned by law enforcement, the guys are going to break into her house and collect evidence to make sure the little girl never has to go back there again.”

My throat tightens, and I’m overwhelmed by the lengths they would go through to help a stranger. I duck my head, blinking furiously to keep my tears from falling. “Thank you. I—You—” I clear my throat, then lift my chin, wanting to show him my sincerity. “Thank you.”

I was that little girl once, a very long time ago. No matter how much I might have wished to be rescued, no one ever came. I’m not sure the guys realized how amazing they are to put themselves at risk that way, but I’m determined to show them. I step toward him, then stretch up on my toes and kiss his cheek lightly.

He sucks in a sharp breath, his hands settling on my hips, and I slowly drop back down on my feet as I peer up at him. His brown eyes darken with lust, and I sway toward him. The scent of books mixed with chocolate makes my mouth water, and my eyes immediately drop to his lips. Hunger swirls in my gut, desperate for another taste of him.

“I hope I’m not interrupting,” Hicks says in a sardonic voice, “since it’s my kitchen and all.”

I leap away from Ellis like a scalded cat, not sure why my insides feel like they did when my father would punch me when Iwasn’t paying attention. Unable to look at either man, I whirl the rings around my fingers.

The buzzer to the oven sounds, and I sigh in relief. Grateful for the distraction, I hurry over to the oven and open it. Heat billows out, and I rear back with a cough. Grabbing the potholders, remembering how Nan used them, I carefully reach for the pan. Unfortunately, I miscalculated the space, and the inside of my arm touches the handle. I curse when a sharp stab of pain sears along my skin.

I quickly place the pan on the top of the stove, gritting my teeth against the sting on my arm. As I drop the potholders, I grimace when I spot the inch-long mark burned along my forearm.

“Don’t touch it.” Ellis grabs my arm to hold me steady. The burn feels like it’s stretching my skin, and I barely resist the impulse to hide my arm behind my back. “Come with me. We have a first aid kit in the bathroom.”

I allow myself to be hauled out of the room, but not before Hicks’ steely green gaze clashes with mine. The judgment in them is so disapproving, so much like my father, that I immediately flinch away. Nightmares that still haunt the dark recesses of my fractured mind stir awake, and I find myself drowning in memories I wish I could erase from existence.

Chapter Fourteen

ELLIS

It’s all I can do not to cross the kitchen and deck that asshole Hicks. Though he might be bigger and heavier, we’re evenly matched in a fight. He relies on instinct in the ring, while I’m more methodical, using my speed and a few well-placed blows to destroy my opponent.

I inhale deeply, trying to dispel the rage thrumming in my veins, but it’s like breathing fire. He’s more than welcome to his suspicions, but his open hostility rubs me the wrong way. Rue has done nothing to deserve his open disrespect, not that Hicks needs an excuse to disrespect anyone.

He barely has the time of day for any woman outside of fucking them. I don’t like that Rue is on his radar. There is something innocent about her, something untarnished, despite her horrific past, and damn if I’ll allow any of us to take that from her.

I reach up to touch the cheek she kissed, then quickly lower my arm before Hicks notices the tell. I’ve been kissed plentyof times by many different women, often using a lot more seduction, but I’ve never reacted to any of them so viscerally.

Rue’s innocent brush of lips against my cheek nearly destroyed me.

It’s not just a physical reaction either, though my cock is still standing at attention, demanding I lay claim to her. My soul sings at her nearness, and my body is eager for more. While I’m not sure I like the loss of control, it’s also exhilarating.

Desperate for a distraction, I push away my emotions, struggling with my anger for a moment, and concentrate on tending to Rue’s injury. I tug her into the bathroom, slip my hands around her waist, and boost her onto the counter. Bending slightly, ready to search under the sink to retrieve the medical kit, I freeze when I catch a glimpse of her face.

Rue’s gorgeous teal eyes are unfocused, her body unresponsive. Bile rises in my throat at the way she so completely vanished inside her head. Not wanting to startle her, I snap my fingers in front of her face.

No response, not even a flinch.

She’s completely locked away in her mind, and I’m not sure how to bring her back. Often suffering from debilitating panic attacks myself, I’ve never felt so helpless in my life after seeing the vivacious Rue just vanish before my eyes.

Desperate to draw her back, unwilling to let her suffer alone, I grimace at what I’m about to do. Gut swirling with dread, I reach out with shaking fingers, wrap them directly over the fresh burn mark on her arm, and press down hard.

My heart breaks when she doesn’t respond in any way.

She’s so used to pain that she doesn’t even shudder. I jerk away as if touching her has scorched me down to the bone. I’m barely able to stave off my own panic as I pace the small confines of the room.

Since pain didn’t work, only one other solution comes to mind—pleasure.

I stop short right in front of her and slowly turn to face her. Stepping between her parted legs, I hesitantly cradle her face in my hands. I gently brush my thumbs along her cheekbones, marveling at the smooth texture of her alabaster skin.

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