Page 22 of Lost (Powertools: The Shields 2)

10

Kennedy clutched the folder containing Knox’s test results to her chest as if it was plate armor instead of simple paper. Given what they’d done the day before, she had a vested interest in the contents. It hadn’t felt right to read them before Knox, though.

So she was going to have to put on her big girl panties and face him. The night before, she’d spent hours rehashing and processing everything that had happened, so quickly, that day. And then some quality time with her arsenal of toys. Every time she thought about how damn good Knox had made her feel while Marcus was spying on them, she got horny again.

Damn them both.

She’d avoided the guys all morning by spending time advocating for Ace at the hospital and overseeing his eventual release. He was settled as comfortably as possible in his apartment with Liam hovering over him. Which meant she was officially out of excuses.

Fortunately, she didn’t have a long trek to dread encountering Marcus and Knox or even far enough to go to change her mind. She stepped out of her apartment and knocked on Marcus’s door. For the past month, she’d loved knowing he was so close. Now, she wasn’t sure what to think.

“Hey, come on in.” Marcus didn’t seem upset to see her. He ushered her down the entry hall that mirrored hers and into his living room. They’d chosen a lot of the same finishes, which ordinarily made her feel as at home in his place as she did in her own. Not with both him and Knox staring at her, though. “How’s Ace?”

“Pissed off that he’s going to have to sit on the sidelines for a few months. Bitching about doing rehab and therapy.”

“Ah, so he’s fine, you mean?” Marcus grinned.

“His ulna is sporting some spiffy new titanium hardware. He’ll live, but it’s not going to be a fun recovery.” She was surprised when she caught Knox’s wince.

“So him and that giant blond guy attached to his hip probably already hate me, huh?” Knox planted his elbow on his knee and put his face in his hand. “I don’t blame them.”

Marcus looked at her with wide eyes as if imploring her to do something about Knox’s beaten attitude. Like what? Fuck him again?

Ugh! How wasshegoing to survive with them both making her crazy?

“You’re not the one who shot him. You were otherwise occupied.” Kennedy figured reminding him would either cheer him up or aggravate him, considering she’d intended to manipulate him.

He lifted his face and speared her with a scorching gaze. Well, at least she wasn’t the only one suffering. At least she’d come. How embarrassing that she hadn’t even finished the job.

“Speaking of that…I have your test results.” She held the folder out to him. He didn’t reach for it, acting as if it was a real live snake.

“Just tell me. Am I okay? Are you?” His face seemed to go ghost white.

“I don’t know. It’s your information.” She shook the papers a bit.

“You didn’t look? It matters to you too. I mean, we used protection, but…”

“I’m trying not to invade your privacy, but maybe you should check and let me know if there’s anything I need to be concerned about.” Kennedy pressed the folder a bit closer and this time he took it. Knox surprised her by looking to Marcus, who seemed to lend his encouragement with a slight nod.

What the hell was that about?

Marcus was a decent man. Had he taken Knox in like a stray dog? How could she resist him when he was sexyandso damn nice?

Knox flipped open the folder and thumbed through his results. His sigh was audible even from several feet away when he reached the end of the paperwork. “I have no idea how, but…looks like I’m healthy.”

“Why were you worried? Because of sharing needles?” She hated to think of him in the grips of his addiction.

“I’m pretty sure I didn’t do that much. But maybe, if I was desperate enough or too high and drunk to give a shit. But, uh, I wasn’t safe with my last lover, who was also an addict and part of the Vipers.” He stared at his bare feet, his toes curled in Marcus’s plush silver rug. It accented the comfortable modern style of the whole place and was incredibly soft, as she knew from the times she’d done the same while watching a movie or decompressing after a mission.

Kennedy realized she was distracting herself from the burst of possessiveness that hit her at the thought of him sleeping with someone else. Of course, he’d probably had plenty of relationships since theirs. She was the only dumbass she knew who clung to a dead end for a decade.

“Oh. Well, if you want some way to share the news with her, I’ll see what Ruby can arrange without giving your location away.” Kennedy tried to maintain a professional tone.

“Not necessary.” Knox groaned and Marcus winced. Did he already know about Knox’s recent affairs? “Heis dead.”

“Oh my God. Please tell me he wasn’t one of the guys we took out yesterday.” Kennedy’s hand flew to her mouth. Had they killed Knox’s lover? And if so, what had he been doing screwing her?

“You’re more worried about hurting someone I care about than the fact that I just told you I’m bi?” He tipped his head.

---