Page 15 of Fervent

I stiffened, still unable to get the hatred in that man’s eyes out of my head. “He was in prison with you?”

“I think so. I can’t remember…I couldn’t see a thing in the hole.”

And we couldn’t see a thing in here. I ran my thumb over the back of his hand, blinking rapidly to hold back the simmering grief. I’d failed him eight years ago. I wouldn’t do the same now. I’d be strong for him, a rock for him to lean on. “Did he d-do it again?”

I waited with bated breath, my heart pounding in my ears. Anotherthwackand scream came from the other side of the wall, and I jumped.

Rafe jumped too. “Jax stopped him.” His voice sounded off, almost as if he’d rehearsed his void tone. I recognized the underlying shock because it matched the way I felt.

“In prison?”

“No, here. He’s here.”

“Jax is involved?”

“I don’t know how or why. None of this makes any fucking sense. He wants me to trust him, but I don’t even know him. How can I trust him when he won’t even tell me what the fuck is going on? All I know is they’re hurting you because of me.”

“I-I’m okay.”

“Don’t lie to me.”

“I will be okay. Just don’t shut me out.” I moved to straddle his lap, needing more than anything to wrap my arms around him, but he held me off.

“I’m naked, Alex.”

I sucked in a breath, sickened by the implications of why they’d remove his clothing. But we only had each other, so I straddled him, despite his protests, and lifted my hands to his rough cheeks. “So am I.”

He laughed. He actually laughed. But the pitch was off, like he was trying hard not to cry or scream or punch something. “I don’t know why this is happening. They said I did something in prison, but I can’t remember shit.”

“I don’t think this is just about you. After they drugged you in the woods, they brought me in to see Lucas.”

“Who?”

“Lucas Perrone,” I repeated, then faltered because he had no idea who I was talking about. How could he? He didn’t remember any of it. “He was a business associate of my dad’s. We dated for a while. He…he asked me to marry him the night you took me.”

“Did you accept?”

That wasn’t what I expected him to say, and I definitely hadn’t expected the note of possessiveness that tinged his tone. I lowered my hands to his shoulders. “Yes.”

“Why?”

“I thought it would protect me from Zach.”

“So you didn’t love him.”

“There’s only one man I’ve ever loved. You already know that.”

“You have shitty taste, sweetheart.”

“I have a taste for you.” I lowered my head, and our breaths mingled. Electricity zinged through the darkness, crackling over our naked skin. Everywhere we touched sparked with heat. I inched back because being so close sent vivid images through my twisted head. I wanted to forget about Lucas, Jax, the fact that we were both prisoners in a dank room, naked and sitting in the dirt.

I wanted to lose myself in him, except we couldn’t just ignore reality. The threat wasn’t going away on its own.

“Why do you think Jax would do this?” He wasn’t the first person I’d trust, but Rafe had trusted him enough to share the cabin with him.

“Fuck, Alex. I don’t know. I’m pretty sure they’re all working for someone though. Jax mentioned his father.” Silence ensued, and we both stilled as the implications settled in.

“But that would mean…”

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