Page 4 of Splintered Security
“Don’t. Move.” The words are growled out with a violence I’ve never heard from my brother’s best friend. Well, his former best friend.
“I’m fine.”
“I’ll be the judge of that.”
“Bossy.”
“Not that you’ve ever listened.”
Oh, I listened. I listened to every last word he ever said. TheSquirts, theshe’s my best friend’s baby sisters,thelike a sister to mes. I heard every word. And each one struck my heart like an assassin’s blade.
And regardless of me listening, regardless of me agreeing to stay away and honoring all the bullshit he spewed, I came for him. Unfortunately, I need him now. I need him to save me from myself.
Again.
Ren
I skim my hands over her body, and not in the way I was desperate to when I was a horny teenager. This time it’s clinical, strictly to search for contusions or cuts. I’d be shocked if the blood is hers.
My back took the brunt of the ceiling caving in. The remnants of what were the walls of this place are everywhere, bricks smashed into pieces the size of green peas. My back feels like someone sprayed gravel into it with an air gun. No doubt I’ll be a pulpy, bruised mess by the time I get home tonight.
I glance at my watch, wondering what time it is and how long I was unconscious. The timepiece is dead, and my phone is shattered.
“I don’t feel any open wounds. On a pain scale of one to ten, how does your neck feel?”
She twists toward me.
I sigh, “What part of ‘don’t move’ did you not understand?”
“The part where any man tells me what to do or not to do. That part. And two, maybe three. I’m not comfortable by any stretch, but I don’t feel any pinch, pain, or pressure anywhere I shouldn’t.”
I slide my hands to her lower back. “And here?”
She exhales in exasperation. “Same.”
“And here?” I slide my hands over her perfect ass and down her legs to her ankles.
I refuse to notice when a shiver reverberates down her slight frame.
“Same.” Her response is less vehement.
“Last one.” I place my hands on her head and gently feel for anything that’s out of place. “Anything hurt or sore? Tell me honestly, Anni.”
Instead of responding verbally, she shakes her head. Ornery woman.
Sitting back onto my already-bruising ass, I scrape a hand down my face. That was too close. Way too fucking close.
“I don’t think you have spinal damage. But don’t even think about leaving here alone. I’m waking you up every hour to check for a concussion. Unless your man?—”
“Wai—”
I throw up a hand before she can interrupt. “I’m happy to take you to the hospital if you’d prefer. If I do, I’m calling your mom. She’ll be here faster than you can sayFuck youwhen she hears you refused to leave the site of an active bomb threat, opting to hang out in the women’s bathroom with a lady doing blow instead.”
“You wouldn’t dare.”
“In a heartbeat, Squirt. In a single fucking heartbeat.”
She pinches her eyes shut and anger burns up her neck and into her face. I’ve always loved that I could read everythingon her face, even when I didn’t want her to be feeling certain things.
