Page 79 of Mine to Keep

“Anticlimactic,” JJ muttered.

“Here.” Shep tossed me rubber gloves. “Residue can be poisonous…certain things get on your skin, in your bloodstream, and it’s lights out.”

Shep knew what he was talking about. He’d used ricin to kill the man who was behind the torture JJ had gone through. I took the gloves, pulled my collar up to cover my mouth and nose, and slowly opened the box.

There was a card and a small MP3 player.

“What is it?” Matt asked.

I pulled out the note:Don’t play games you can’t win, Nick. Matt is mine…good thing I’m patient.I handed the note off to JJ and he took it and went back to the others, then I reached in, and hit play.

A howl filled the kitchen. Everyone walked up and stared at the MP3 player as “Lil’ Red Riding Hood” by Sam the Sham & the Pharaohs began to play.

“Jesus fucking Christ,” JJ whispered. “They’re unhinged.”

“Nick.” Matt grabbed my arm; he was shaking.

I spun and wrapped my arms around him. “It’s okay, Matt. I won’t let them get you.”

He whimpered as shivers wracked his body.

“Nick, why don’t you take Matt to your room? A nice bath, rest a bit. I think we could all use a little bit of a break.” Mason smiled softly. “I’ll call Gabe and let him know what happened—maybe he can press Greg for something. If Lenny is home and doing this, maybe Greg can get something out of them.”

I nodded. “Okay, thanks, Mason.”

With Matt cuddled into my side, we walked to my bedroom and straight into the en suite. He wouldn’t let me go, which made undressing difficult. I managed and soon he was between my legs, his back resting against my chest in a bath full of bubbles.

We didn’t speak. What could I say to make this right? I just held him and promised myself that I’d give whoever was doing this the ending they deserved.

CHAPTER THIRTY-FIVE

Matt

I was shivering,but I wasn’t cold. How could I be? I was in a hot bath with Nick’s arms wrapped around me.

This person, this…monster had broken into my home, my safe place, gone through things I owned, and was basically pissing on my leg, claiming me as theirs. I wasn’t property. I was angry, but more than that, I was terrified.

Nick tenderly kissed my shoulders as he washed my body with slow, relaxing movements. I felt so lost, with no idea what was going to happen or how to fix it. Would this person snap and kill me if I refused them? Would they kill Nick? What about the others?

“Hey,” Nick whispered in my ear. “You’re spiraling, and I get it—I do. I told you I’d keep you safe. I meant it, Mattie.”

“Don’t call me that,” I mumbled. It was a reflex at this point. He always called me that, no matter how many times I asked him not to.

He chuckled. “Just wanted to see if you were listening.”

I spun until I faced him, my legs overlapping his. “You make me promises you can’t guarantee, Nick.” I pressed a finger to his mouth when he went to speak. “Listen to me. Your intentions are genuine—I believe that. You are going to do everything in your power to keep me safe.”

“I will.”

“But you can’t promise me that.”

“I can, because?—”

“Nick, stop,” I snapped, and his eyes widened in surprise. “I’ve talked to JJ and Mason, and they told me their stories. You and I both know Gabe and Shep promised those men they’d keep them safe too. We aren’t always in the kind of control we think we are. Bad things happen sometimes, no matter how tough we think we are.”

Nick sat back against the tub, and I pressed my hand over his heart.

“You’ll never be alone, Matt, not until this is dealt with. Whoever is doing this, they won’t be dumb enough to do something with others around.”

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