Page 97 of Revenant

Before anyone can say anything—because no matter what they say, they can’t change the past—I switch the subject.

“Is Nan okay?” I ask hesitantly, uncertain I can handle the bad news if anything happened to my grandmother. Whether she knows it or not, she saved my life when she rescued me from my father. It would crush me to learn she suffered because of that decision.

Hicks snorts and rolls his eyes, but I don’t miss the smirk tugging at his lips. “She is still a spitfire. Her house is locked up tighter than Fort Knox and guarded with twenty-four-hour protection. She would come over once or twice a day to ask for updates about you.”

“And brings us cookies,” Jameson murmurs, rubbing his belly when it growls. “Ones she didn’t cook, so they were edible.”

Jaceson chuckles, rubbing his hand along his jaw. “We each probably ate our weight in sugar. She thought we were too skinny and needed to be kept fed if we were going to rescue you. She never once doubted that we would get you back.”

“When a lead wouldn’t pan out, she would come over and read her cards for us,” Ellis admitted, his expression softening. “She gave us hope that you were still alive.”

“She told us about your family and their gifts,” Gunner murmurs in a gruff voice. “So that when you came home, we would be able to help you better.”

Tears sting my eyes at their obvious fondness for the old woman, their love for my grandmother bleeding through their words. My lips tremble, and I purse them as I struggle to contain my gratitude. “How long was I gone?”

Silence thickens the room, the guys glancing at each other, and I’m not surprised when it’s Hicks who speaks. “Nearly four months.”

His gruff voice is solemn, and I gawk at him in shock.

“So long?” I twist, grabbing the edges of my robe and pulling it over my shoulders. “I suspected that it’s been a while, but…” I blow out a breath when my voice shakes, then I clear my throat and glance at each of them with a combination of confusion and awe. “You looked for me the whole time.”

It’s not a question, and I can’t keep the astonishment from my voice.

Not even my parents could be bothered for more than a few seconds.

A tiny purr fills Hicks’ chest, one that I wouldn’t have heard if I wasn’t so close, and I immediately melt against him. I breathe in the spicy cologne he wears and sigh in appreciation at the warm undertone that makes me want to lay hands on him and explore every inch of his body.

“We would’ve searched to the ends of the earth, if that’s what it took to get you back.” I am so distracted by the deliciousness of his scent that I jolt at his gruff tone, and my gaze snaps to his face.

Warmth invades my chest at the silent promise in his eyes, and I know if anything ever happens, he will always come for me.

Before I can voice my next question, my stomach releases a vicious growl. Ellis and Hicks blink, Jaceson chuckles, Gunner’s stomach rumbles back like it’s commiserating, while Jameson rolls and flips off the bottom of the bed. “Breakfast! Pookie needs sustenance.”

The guys are all in motion a moment later, like feeding me is their top priority. I watch in bemusement as they climb out of the bed, none of them seemingly bothered by sleeping next to each other.

My stomach flutters wildly at the thought of them all sleeping next to me, and it’s not from anxiety. I suspect it will be a while before I’m comfortable enough to let them out of my sight.

They murmur and talk to each other as they head out of the room, each wearing a serious expression, as if procuring my breakfast is their next mission. Contentment warming my chest, I sigh and try to work up the energy to crawl from the huge ass fucking bed.

Gunner is the last to leave and pauses on the threshold. He’s wearing only shorts, leaving the stunning view of his muscles on display for my ogling pleasure, and damn if my libido doesn’t wake up with a vengeance, my greedy pussy already wet.

For the first time, I see the image of the tattoo I designed stretched across his back. The black ink is stunning, the details of the sword so intricate that I swear I could lift it off his back. When his muscles shift, the feathers arching out from the sword look like they are shifting, and I can almost feel a breeze swirling around the room.

He glances at me, completely oblivious to my gawking, then gazes after the guys before he plants his feet by the door. “You can get dressed. I’ll stand guard while you get ready.”

When he avoids my gaze, I frown in concern and my lust dulls. It takes nearly a full minute to kick my way free of the sheets and blankets. I swear, each of the guys must have grabbed something to cover me with during the middle of the night. I finally end up standing and stalking toward the end of the bed.

Concern widens Gunner’s eyes, like I might fall down and hurt myself—on a fucking bed—and he quickly scurries forward to catch me.

When his hands come to rest on my hips, I drape my arms over his shoulders, inhaling the scent of grease, body wash, and man to calm my sudden nerves. Just as he lifts me, I peer up at him and ask the question that has been bothering me. “What’s wrong?” When he freezes, I swallow hard and confess my worst fear. “Are you upset with me? I would understand. If you hadn’t rescued me, you would still be human.”

Chapter Thirty-six

GUNNER

Istiffen at Rue’s touch, my hands tightening on her hips possessively, struggling against the need to keep from dragging her against me and claiming her for my own. The longer I’m around her, the harder it is to resist her.

Then I process her question, and a scowl puckers my face. “Of course not.”

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