Page 50 of Born to Bleed

She kissed him once more, then pulled down, turning to look for Sawyer, who still stood in the same spot fifteen feet away, though he’d at least had the decency to turn his back to them.

“Sawyer,” she called.

He turned around, quickly stalking back toward them.

Hayden didn’t push her away as his brother approached. If anything, his hold on her tightened.

“Sorry,” Sawyer offered. “I just want everyone to be safe.”

“I know that, brother.” Hayden turned to look to her, raising a brow, waiting.

She sighed. “I know that, too.”

The corner of Hayden’s mouth twitched at her statement, but he hid the smile. Something about his hiding it for Sawyer but showing it freely to her made her blood heat.

Sawyer nodded. “We’ll get this done. It’s been a long time coming.” His eyes went Hayden’s hands on her hips, to hers on his chest, to the way they held onto each other as if their lives depended on it. “Is this a thing now?” he gestured toward them.

“It is,” Hayden answered.

Sawyer just nodded. “Keep it out of your work.”

Then he turned and stalked away, obviously wanting to say more but knowing not to. Anna could tell that Hayden wanted to go after him, to discuss more, to check in on him, to get him to calm down with territorial Mason, so instead, she pulled him down to her once more, moving her lips with his until his arms wrapped around her, her feet lifting from the ground and a low growl rolling in his throat.

A small worry in the back of her mind wondered if she’d gotten herself in too deep, put a little too much trust in Hayden and the group they’d been working with. But it was trust, or face the world alone again, and that seemed just as terrifying as having her trust shattered one more time. What was one more wound, after all? Hayden’s tongue invaded her mouth, silencing those thoughts, until there was nothing left but him.

? ♥ ?

Hayden cleared the last of his workstation, tucking the devices into bags that were piled in the back corner of the tent. He folded the table, putting it outside and leaning it against the nearby trees. Thanks to the fact that it was a hard plastic material, it would do alright being out in the elements for one night.

The snow made it necessary to condense supply tents and move people in with one another. Since Hayden’s tent was the smallest, by far, it would just be him and his men, with Mason’s men spreading themselves out among three of the remaining tents. The women all shared one tent, along with the two children that were still with them. Anna elected to join the rest of the women, despite Hayden’s offer for her to stay with him. Perhaps there was still some tension between her and Sawyer. That would end eventually, when she grew to know him.

Speaking of the devil… Sawyer’s head ducked into the tent, looking around before stepping inside, his larger frame making the space seem even smaller. “Brother,” he grinned. “Where’s your girl tonight?”

“Staying with the other women.” Hayden checked one last time on his bags in the far corner, then reached for blankets to divvy up amongst the others.

“You know,” Sawyer stalked closer. “Hunter took me by surprise. Derek, fuck, I’m more surprised it didn’t happen sooner.” He took another step closer, until there was only a foot of space between them. “But you? Never fucking saw it coming.”

Hayden tensed for a moment, preparing for an argument he did not want to have.

Sawyer’s hand fell to his shoulder, giving it a squeeze. “I’m happy for you, man.”

He… what?

Hayden swallowed the lump in his throat, tilting his head as he worked to understand his brother, his friend.

As if Sawyer could see the wheels turning in his brain, he added, “you seem happy. Different. It’s good to see.”

“It seems that you’ve surprised me, too, brother.”

Sawyer grinned, pushing against Hayden’s shoulder before pulling his hand back. “Ha! I knew I’d get you someday.” He walked back toward the tent’s opening, pushing it aside, most likely to tell the others it was safe to enter. “All knowing, my ass,” he muttered under his breath.

Hayden just chuckled, not even bothering to hide it as he normally would. “What about you and Kayla? I always assumed…”

Sawyer froze in the door, his body growing tense. “If I were just a soldier, I’d be with her in a heartbeat.” He turned his profile toward Hayden, a sad expression on his face. “But I’m the one calling the shots here. I have too many people counting on me to get involved.”

Hayden almost rolled his eyes. The same excuse Sawyer had always given, the same words he’d lectured to Hunter and Derek when they’d first taken a partner of their own. “You can have both, brother. Nobody ever asked you to choose.”

Sawyer’s laugh echoed through the space, cold and harsh. “And put her at risk?” He shook his head. “If it came down to her life or the mission, I’d let this entire fucking country burn, brother. The further I am from her, the better. Trust me on that.”

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