Page 93 of Forever Theirs

Langston and Liam shared a look I couldn’t read before Liam disappeared. With gentle care, Langston stepped back and ripped the black T-shirt he wore over his head. If my thoughts hadn’t been stilted from the wine, concussion, and now blood loss, I would’ve appreciated his defined chest and attempted to make out the design inked there.

A loud tearing sound rang in my ears, drawing my attention away from his tattoo and to the shirt he’d ripped in two.

“This is going to hurt, but I need to bind the wound to slow the bleeding until I can get the emergency supplies from my gear bag.” His hands hovered over my arm, fingers tightening around the black cotton. “I’m going to touch you, okay?”

I guess I nodded, because he went to work wrapping the wide strip of cloth around my forearm. I bit back a scream, teeth almost cracking, as pain shot up my arm. Fresh tears leaked from my eyes as I squeezed them shut.

“The dog is out cold, drugged maybe.” Liam’s voice went in one ear and out the other. “There are signs of a struggle in their cabin, too, Lang. The back door is wide open with a fresh blood trail that leads out, which obviously isn’t Aspen’s.” He squatted beside me and pushed the hair off my sweaty forehead. “You’re going to be okay.”

“Jubie,” I whispered despite my raw throat.

“Hey, it’s okay.” Liam’s wide palm brushed along the top of my head in a comforting gesture. “I texted Baylee a 9-1-1 message. She’s on her way to focus on Jubie.”

Something tightening around my bicep had me biting my lip hard, my teeth puncturing the soft flesh. Blinking through my glassy vision, I barely made out the makeshift tourniquet Langston’s thick fingers were finishing tying off.

“Call her guys,” Langston barked. “Tell them to get their asses back here now, and call The Nest’s doctor while you run to my place for my medic kit.”

“You have a horrible disposition for a doctor,” I mumbled, thoughts growing even fuzzier from the pain and blood loss slowly shutting down my body.

Instead of being pissed, a small smile tugged at the corner of Langston’s lips. Shaking his head, he slid both arms beneath me and hauled me into the air, securing me against his bare chest.

“Put your arm on your stomach while I carry you back to the cabin.” When I did as requested, Langston started toward Miles and Aiden’s place. “And I agree with you, I would’ve been a shit doctor. But in a combat zone, my shitty attitude and demeanor didn’t matter as long as I kept soldiers alive.”

I filed away that bit of information for later.

“Miles and Aiden are on their way,” Liam said from somewhere behind us as Langston hauled me like a bride into the cabin. “Calling the doc now. Be right back with your stuff.”

The leather groaned as Langston laid me on the couch, quickly finding a pillow to prop up my head.

“This will not feel good.” I blinked at him. “Fine, it’s going to hurt like hell at first, but it’ll get better, promise.” Features set into a firm line, he wrapped his fingers around my wrist and lifted my injured arm. “Keeping it above your heart will help with the blood loss. That, plus the tourniquet. You’ll be okay, Aspen.” With gentle fingers, he brushed a few damp strands of hair off my face. “Can you tell me what happened?”

“She was going to hurt Jubie,” I slurred. My lids grew heavy, slowly shutting and refusing to reopen.

A hard shake to my shoulder jostled me along the couch. “Hey, none of that. You want to see your guys when they get here, right? Keep them from killing me.”

With determined effort, I forced my lids back open, fighting to keep them that way. “Why would they do that?”

Langston shifted on the balls of his feet where he crouched beside me. “Men like them, like us, have shit reasoning when finding their girl injured and some big asshole looming over her.”

“You’re not a big asshole.” Not sure when I changed my opinion of the guy, but here we were.

He scoffed. “Right. Now, back to what happened. Who wanted to hurt Jubie?”

“You have to stop her.” A bolt of urgency had me pushing off the couch like I was in any condition to chase after Jessica. “She wants to hurt them. Please,” I begged, “don’t let her hurt them.”

With a soft grip on my shoulder, Langston gently guided me back down to the couch. “Don’t worry, I won’t let anyone hurt my friends.” He gave me a half smile. “Based on the huge egg-shaped bump on your head and gash on your forearm, it seems you fight for your friends and family too. Maybe I misjudged you, Aspen Carter.”

“Or Alaska changed me,” I murmured, lips numb.

“Ah, Alaska only brings out the core of who we are. It doesn’t change us.”

“You’re a military medicanda philosopher?” That made me think of when I met Aiden and said something similar. “Where are they?” I cried, voice shaking.

“They’re almost here, but first, I need to know one thing. Can you focus for me?” I nodded, locking eyes with him. “Who are we hunting, sweet girl? Who will I make pay for hurting you and trying to hurt my friends?”

“Jessica,” I said automatically, like I’d been given truth serum and couldn’t stop the name from leaving my lips.

A dark expression overtook his face. “Hmm, good to know.”

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