Page 12 of Bad Ruck

"Is that what this is?" I asked. "Someone thought she was working for him and went after her?"

"Or someone knew she was working with me." He looked down regretfully.

"They might come after you next," I said softly. This was getting worse by the minute.

"What I can't figure out is what Dallas has to do with any of this," Frost said.

"If he was seen talking to India, they may have made assumptions," I said. He might really be dead after all.

Frost brushed hair off the side of my face. "He's okay. He'll turn up soon, I promise."

"You might not be able to keep that promise," I pointed out.

I wanted him to, I wanted it badly. If Dallas was right in front of me now, I'd grab hold of him and never let go. Would it be strange if I handcuffed myself to him for the rest of our lives?

Probably, but I'd be tempted to do it anyway, so he'd never be out of my sight again. I'd consider letting him out to train and play, but only for a few hours at a time. I had a feeling he wouldn't mind being attached to me like that.

Okay, I wouldn't do that, but I still wished he was here with us.

"I never make promises I can't keep," he said. "There's a logical explanation for him disappearing. He could be at home right now, having a nap. Or he might be looking at that mansion we were talking about, and putting in an offer. We might be the proud owners of a big, fancy house on the cliff as we speak." He seemed to like the idea.

"Why didn't he turn up at the animal shelter then?" Jay reasoned.

"He slept through it, then went to buy the mansion," Frost said. "He was already late, so figured why bother? Buying property is much more fun, especially when he gets to give Chelsea the keys as a surprise."

It was a stretch, and we all knew it, but none of us had the heart to say so. Not when we all hoped it was the truth, or somewhere close to it.

"Do you want someone to go with you?" I asked Ramsey. "I don't like the idea of any of us being alone right now."

We wouldn't be very subtle if we moved around Dusk Bay in a group, but it would be more difficult for anyone to try to attack us. Especially if they were one person, acting alone. They'd either be very brave or very stupid to take on five big football players and a tall doctor.

Stupid, or desperate.

Ramsey took my hand and pulled me gently from Frost's arms. He wrapped his around me and pressed his mouth to mine. "I'll be fine. When I'm done with Otis Skinner, I'm going to claim you." He kissed me again, his tongue tasting my lips before he let me go and stepped back.

"Keep her safe," he told the others.

"Always," Atlas assured him. "Keep yourself safe."

"Always," Ramsey echoed. He stepped through the dressing room again and out the doorway. His footsteps sounded on theconcrete floor before he pushed out the loading bay door and let it close behind him with a clang.

I tried to tell myself there was nothing final about that clang. We'd see him again in a couple of hours, safe and well. Ready to claim me and own me, like the other guys had already.

"Let's go home," Storm said. "If Dallas is there having a nap, I'm going to punch him in the cock."

"After you tell him how glad you are to see him," I said.

He grunted. "Maybe."

"I'll be glad to see him," Frost said. "But I might let Storm punch him in the cock after all this worry."

"No one is punching anyone in the cock," I said. "Not unless they're on the other side. Then you can do all the cock punching and kicking you like."

Frost pumped the air with his fist. "Hell yeah. Let's do it." He was clearly looking forward to raising some hell and getting his hands dirty.

"I need to be out of here," Jay said. He walked ahead of us, scanning the area as he went. Even stopping to push at the racks of costumes before walking past. "Just checking to see if anyone is hiding in there." If they were, they would have gotten a fist to the kidneys, or to the face if they were crouched down amongst the fabric.

Since no one cried out in pain, I presumed no one was there. Most of the costumes were too skimpy to hide behind anyway.

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