Page 13 of Chaos & Carnage

His words remind me that she’s been missing for two fucking days, and before I can think better of it, I growl, “Where the fuck have you been?”

Dante’s head snaps up, giving me a withering glare, but Red simply smiles serenely, like I said something sweet. Extracting herself from Oliver’s arms, she slowly climbs off the bed and ambles toward me with stiff movements that none of us miss.

Mischief brims in her eyes as she approaches, a playful smile directed right at me. “I missed you too, Cain, baby.”

My eyes narrow in warning at her ridiculous nickname, even as my fingers twitch at my side, desperate to reach out and drag her the rest of the way to me. It takes every bit of goddamn patience I have to wait for her to reach me, and unbidden, my eyes close as she slides a palm up my chest until her hand rests over the chaotic beating of my heart.

“So damn much.” Those last words are whispered, for only me, and I snap my eyes open.

Lifting my arms, I slide my hands through her hair, holding her head in place so I can drink my fill of her. “You’re never leaving my side again.”

Chapter 5

Nothing beats seeing all four of my men in the same room, especially when they aren’t throwing hateful glares or spiteful words at one another. All of them are too focused on me to care about pissing off one another, and for now, I’ll take that small reprieve.

“Answer his question, Spitfire,” Enzo states, his tone non-negotiable, when I fail to answer Cain. “What happened?”

Turning, I lean back against Cain’s chest, soaking in the warmth that seeps through my Henley and melts into my bones, easing the last of my aches and pains. My body is still stiff and sore, but a shower and another nap have done it a world of good and I already feel a million miles better than I did when I first woke up.

“One of Giovanni’s scouts shot out my tire when I was on my way to your place,” I explain. None of them seem surprised, so I guess they saw the wreckage. My lips tug down in a frown as I picture Raven smeared all over the street. She deserved a far better death than that.

Shaking off my melancholy, my thoughts drift back to the alley as I recount the rest of my story. “I was thrown from the bike, and the guy caught me. I slit his throat.”

“We saw,” Oliver says from his position on the side of the bed. “We found his body in the alley.”

“After that, I stumbled into the warehouse and passed out. A friend found me and took me in until I woke up.”

“A friend?” Cain accuses, at the same time Dante snaps, “What friend?”

All four of them are staring at me with narrowed eyes.

Ignoring their piercing gazes, I shrug a shoulder. “Just a friend. He patched me up and gave me taxi money to get here.”

“He?!” Cain’s hands tighten on my waist, and I flinch beneath the painful grip.

“You’re hurting her!” Dante snarls, stepping toward me as if he’s going to physically remove me from Cain’s hold. I’ve no doubt that that is exactly his intention.

Cain immediately drops his hand, frowning down at my waist, even though he can’t see the bruises hiding under my clothes. “Sorry,” he grumbles, looking thoroughly apologetic.

“It’s fine,” I assure him. “I just have a few scrapes and bumps.”

Resounding growls resonate around the room, and I roll my eyes at their alpha male posturing, even if I preen at knowing I have four ruthless men who would do anything to ease my pain and avenge the person who inflicted it. No need, though. I just need a few days rest then I’ll be right as rain, ready to carry out my own vengeance.

Cain’s lips pinch and fury burns in his emerald eyes. “We’re not done talking about this,” he bites out, to which I just give him a placating smile. “But I need to talk to my men, and then we need to get you out of here. It’s not safe.”

My lips thin at the thought of him leaving my sight already, but I know he has work to do. I can only imagine the mess he has to clean up after bringing Dante and Enzo here. I hadn’t expected to wake up and see Dante’s face looming over mine, but I should have guessed he wouldn’t stay behind.

“Okay.” Pressing up on my toes, I plant a quick kiss against his lips, but Cain’s hand comes up to cup the back of my head, holding me in place as he prolongs it. “Don’t go anywhere,” he murmurs when we pull apart.

“I won’t.” I take a step back, and the softness that was in his eyes a second ago hardens.

“I mean it, Red. Stay here!”

“I pinky promise,” I say with a laugh.

He frowns at me for a moment longer before gesturing for Oliver to follow him.

Instead of following him to the door, Oliver makes a beeline for me, bending down to capture my lips with his. His kiss is bitter and sweet all at once, as he pushes every bit of regret and love into it.

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