Page 99 of Ravaged Saints

Aspen bites her lip. “I don’t know, Bryn. I have to be honest. I feel like he’s hiding something.”

My stomach twists. “You can trust him. He has some ideas for the base now that you and I are here,” I say, softly Iwanther to believe it.

Her brows draw together. “Ideas?”

“Yeah. Nothing too dramatic, but Ethan thinks the guys should be more open to the outside world.” I choose my words carefully, but Aspen’s expression darkens.

“The outside world is dangerous, Bryn.YouandIknow that. Ethan’s privileged, and he has no idea what it’s really like out there.” She sits up, her body tensing.

I exhale slowly. “I know.Heknows it too. But he’s thinking about the bigger picture: women, children, people who need help. This place could be more than just a hideout.”

Aspen studies me, her blue eyes searching mine. “Is Ethan talking to someone outside the base?”

I shake my head immediately. “No! Of course not, Aspen. He’s not dumb, and neither am I.” I try to keep sound steady, but my fingers clench under the sheets.

Ican’ttell her what we were doing tonight. Ethan is right; none of them would understand, and they’d never allow it, but I need Aspen to see that we’renotthe bad guys. That this place could be the beginning of something better.

I’m not dumb. I have my eye on Ethan.

“I don’t think I can trust Ethan, but I trust you, Bryn.” Her tone is sweet, and she holds my hand under sheets.

I fake a yawn, and Aspen rubs her face.

“We really need to get some sleep,” I say, snuggling deeper into the warmth of the bed.

“Yeah,” she murmurs, pulling the blanket over her head.

Her breathing evens out, slow and steady, and I remember when it was just the two of us out there, huddled together in the cold. I would fall asleep knowing Aspen would stay up, watching the darkness, keeping me safe, and now here we are, me wide awake, but Aspen, sleeping without a care.

How the tables have turned.

I slip out of bed when the first rays of sunshine pierce through the small window and head upstairs. Ethan, Knox, and Max went to make a round of the base, and Ryker’s on the roof, guarding them, but Dante is eating breakfast alone.

Aspen’s still asleep, so I take the moment for what it is, an opportunity.

I want to see if I can at least make Dantereact.

“Good morning, Dante,” I say softly.

“Morning, Bryn.” His hazel eyes lift to mine, a kindness in his eyes.

I watch as he places a plate on the counter with fruit and milk, and I take a moment to really look at him. He’s dressed in black cargo pants and a tight shirt that clings to every cut of muscle; the veins in his arms stand out against his skin, and my fingers twitch when I see the skull tattoo in his hand.

I smirk. “You must’ve been every nurse’s dream.”

He follows my gaze to his arm, the hint of a smile playing on his lips.

“I was.” His voice is calm, amused, and exactly how I want it.

I trail a finger along his forearm, feeling the shift of muscle beneath my touch. He tenses.

“Bryn,” he warns.

I ignore it. “Shh.”

I push him back just enough to slip between him and the counter, and my hands roam, tracing the firm planes of his chest, moving lower, teasing the line of his abs. My fingers drift to his cock, and I feel it twitch under my touch.

He groans, and a thrill shoots through me, so I reach for his zipper and kneel, but before I can pull it down, Dante grabs my wrist and yanks me up. A sharp sting shoots through my arm, but the pain is nothing compared to the way his eyes pin me in place.

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