Page 72 of Burning Secrets

Viper’s first blindside blow had nearly made her retch, seeing Crew practically leave his feet, come up with his mouth bleeding.

Oh, he was tough. Because he faced Viper, so much fierceness on his face, in his eyes, it seemed he might be lit from the inside. Powered maybe by truth, or fury?—

Or love.

What?

But of course, his words filled her head.They mess with you, they mess with me.

And she’d had to go and make the snarky comment about him fighting the entire compound for her honor.

She wanted to bury her head in her arms and weep.

Especially when Viper hit him again—although Crew had gotten a couple jabs in—and then kicked him across the face.

She had to go down there. Stop this.

And then what? Crew got to watch while Viper beat her too? Killed her?

He was doing this for her…so she could get away.

Get. away.

Crew got up, circled Viper, dodged another punch, landed one, ducked, dodged.

The men had formed a circle around them, and one of them pushed Crew back into the center just in time for Viper to hit him again.

She couldn’t watch. But she couldn’t waste his diversion either.

She backed away from the edge of the roof.

Turned.

A man stood there, and she nearly screamed. Long brown hair, a baseball cap?—

Wait. “Tristan?” She hissed it, barely above a whisper.

“Let’s go,” he said, and disappeared below the edge.

Oh. And now, even if she’d doubted it before, she knew…

Crew had walked right back into the yard for her. To challenge Viper to a fight, keep the eyes off her.

So she could get away.

Her eyes slicked even as she scooted over the edge, found the window, then Tristan’s hand on her foot, directing her down to the firewood bin.

She landed on the ground behind him, the fire still fighting for life in the cabin. But it spilled out enough smoke to obscure them, maybe.

“We can’t leave without Crew.”

“That’s exactly what we’re going to do. Believe me, I know what it’s like to be left behind, but I made a promise, Jo. C’mon.”

No. No. But she pressed a hand over her mouth to follow him.

A glance between the buildings showed Crew still on his feet, still circling, some of the guys yelling, swearing.

“Jo—now!”

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