Page 77 of Looking Grimm

“Ripley Vaughn?” Tobin asked. “Your buddy from the warehouse bust?”

I nodded. “Yourbuddy, too, Toby. You two are intimately acquainted since you drank his spit.”

The investigator frowned. “I did what?”

“Remember that plague cure?” I asked, earning a hesitant nod in response. “It was a big glob of magical spit, and you guzzled it down. That’s pretty kinky, even by my standards.”

Tobin’s face paled while I smiled wide.

“You’re a sick fuck,” he snarled.

I snickered, but my good humor failed to rub off on Felix, who persisted in his apprehension.

“Are you sure you can do this?” he asked. “It’s life or death for all of us out there, but this puts a lot of pressure on you.”

It must have been hard to put their faith in someone better known for ending lives than saving them, but they wouldn’t have come here if they had a better option.

“I can handle it,” I assured him. Bending, I scooped the discarded handcuffs from the floor and offered them to Nash. “You mind?”

He balked as renewed reluctance contorted his features.

“Gotta leave me like you found me,” I explained. Despite the fear clawing up from my feet, I gave him my most encouraging smile.

Any one of them could have put the shackles on, but I asked Nash because I trusted him most. Or maybe it was an excuse to get close one last time.

Slowly, he moved around behind me. His hands trembled as he pulled my wrists together and ratcheted the cuffs around them. When he was done, he leaned against my back and wrapped his arms around my waist.

“For the record, I hate this plan,” he murmured near my ear, then sighed. “I hate all your plans.”

I tipped my head back until my cheek pressed against his. “Me, too.”

Tobin cleared his throat. “Okay, lovebirds. We have time but not eternity. Let’s get going.”

When Nash pulled away, I shivered. If my hands hadn’t been bound, I would have grabbed him, kissed him, and held on until this was all over. Instead, I rocked back against the wall and laced my fingers together, squeezing.

Tobin left first with Felix trailing behind and Nash lagging at the back.

Watching him move toward the exit stirred the anxiety I’d managed to subdue, and I called after him.

“Nick?”

He paused and looked at me over his shoulder, clearly surprised by the use of his first name.

Words threatened to fail me, but I forced them out in a croak. “I love you.”

His expression softened, and he turned, closing the distance to me and catching me up in a tender embrace. I pressed into him as hard as I could, ignoring the protest of pain from my broken body. He drew back and cradled my head in his hands.

“I love you, too, Trouble,” he said. “So fucking much.”

Tears pricked my eyes as he placed a kiss on my forehead.

“Take care of my pretty boy for me, all right?” His brows furrowed sternly as he continued, “If it comes down to them or you, I want you. You’re gonna walk away from this. Promise.”

“Nash, I can’t—”

“Call me Nick.” Color tinted his cheeks as he looked aside, suddenly sheepish. “I like it.”

I bobbed my head. “Okay, Nick. I promise.”

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