Page 61 of Monster

Drake met the rhino’s stare and remembered what the man had said about his father’s care.Drake had no say.Arguing would only put them more at odds… and potentially make him look like an asshole in front of his mate.He bit the inside of his lip and stepped back.

He watched as Killian inserted the needle and filled Luca with the drug.After a few minutes, Luca’s lids seemed to grow a bit heavier.

“It’s time to move,” Bull said.

One after the other, the barred doors were opened.Luca’s hands were restrained before he was led out of the cage.

After knowing Luca’s wildness just days before, he understood the need for security.He still hated seeing his mate in cuffs.

Bull led his father out of the cage. Drake took up the other side and gripped the man’s arm. A shot of electricity sparked through him. Luca turned to eye him, heat in his stare.

That gaze was broken when Bull urged them forward.

Drake caressed the inside of Luca’s arm as they exited the secured room. After a few twists and turns through the facility, they ended up in what looked like a bedroom. A narrow bed sat in the center. It had soft pillows and bedding. A desk fit into one corner.A chair on the other.A television was mounted on one wall for some entertainment.

There was a small private bathroom, as well as a small closet with two outfits inside.

If there hadn’t been shuttered bars on the windows, it would’ve felt more like a home than a cell.

After Bull removed the cuffs, Luca sauntered slowly to one of the windows and sighed. There wasn’t much of a view, but after the places Luca had been held in, Drake was sure this one was infinitely better.

“I’ll give you two some time together,” Bull muttered before everyone else exited to the hallway.

Luca turned to stare at his son. “Thank you.”

Bull eyed them both, a little ire in his gaze. “Knock when you’re ready to leave, Drake.There’s a guard on duty in the hall.” He nodded slightly and closed the door.

He jolted slightly as the locks on the door were engaged.

It was a reminder that this was still a cell.

Luca’s gaze drifted to his once the door closed.

Alone.

They’d been alone together before—in Luca’s troubled mind.Here, it felt so much different. While he’d been able to touch and hold this man next to him, it hadn’t been real, no matter how real it had felt there.

The only time he’d ever touched Luca was the hand he’d used to guide the man into this room. And there were so many more touches he wanted to share—but he didn’t know how to proceed. Luca was still healing… still remembering his past…

Still recovering from the torment of Project Zed.

Drake wouldn’t force himself on the man.

Silence fell between them, but it wasn’t the only thing.

There was a hunger Drake felt that he struggled to contain. He sensed the same from Luca.

The man moved his gaze to the walls and took a few circular steps.“I suppose this is an upgrade from the last.”

“It feels a bit more… homey.”

“Home. I haven’t had one of those in a long, long time.” He turned to face Drake. “I wouldn’t even know where to go outside these walls.I should be grateful for this place.”

“You have places to go here.”

Luca took two steps closer. “I do?”

Your home is with me. “Deacon gave Jaeger and me a cabin to share.”

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