Page 52 of Taking Chances

I turned my gaze toward the stairs, thinking about Kenz there, in her bed, asleep and wounded and so vulnerable. “I have a feeling that if we do this, if we get Nem involved, I don’t think Kenz is going to forgive us. I don’t think Nem will let her go again. I doubt we’ll have the chance to just pick things up again like nothing happened.”

If we do this, we’re putting Kenz’s life above not only our own lives, but above our future together, too.

I nodded at Tor’s words, again amazed that the man who couldn’t really speak could put the facts so clearly in line.

“Pretty much,” Hayden said. “So the question is, are we able to give her up?”

I want her alive and happy most of all. Everything else is secondary,Tor texted without hesitation.

Vance sighed, then whispered softly, “If anyone deserves a good life, it’s her. I can’t stand in the way of that just because I love her.”

I wanted to tell them no, that I’d fight, that I’d do whatever it took to keep her. I didn’t want to lose this feeling I’d found, the sense of belonging she gave me, the ability to be myself and have someone else accept it. It was a miracle I didn’t think possible. However, when I opened my mouth, that wasn’t what came out. “I can do anything except bury another woman I love.”

Hayden sighed, then pulled out his phone. “Okay. I’ll make the call.”

And even though I knew this was for the best, that this was what needed to happen, that this was the only way to protect her, I couldn’t stop myself from feeling that same sinking, overwhelming grief as when I’d lost my wife.

As it turned out, death wasn’t the only crushing loss a person could experience.

* * * *

Kenz

I woke alone, in one of my nightgowns that I sure hadn’t put on myself. I might have been more embarrassed if I wasn’t so sore, well, everywhere.

I had bandages on my arms and one leg. I got out of the bed and dragged myself to the bathroom, I found many more scrapes all over me. It brought me back to when I’d leapt from the motorcycle, the split second before I’d hit the ground, before I’d rolled and felt the tearing of my skin.

Talk about a memory I’d rather forget.

Especially the way Lorien had spoken to me, how he’d sworn not to give up.

I lifted the nightgown to see the scrapes that went up my thigh, all the way to my hip. Each time I moved, the scabs pulled, burning. Most didn’t seem that deep, but they’d still take a while to heal, and I doubted I’d get away without any scars.

“Bet that hurts.”

I looked into the mirror to find Char behind me, his arms crossed and his shoulder against the doorframe of the bathroom. He had the expression I was used to, one that always seemed both mildly annoyed and mildly amused, as though he teetered between the two feelings and wasn’t sure which one would win.

Yet just seeing him made me feel safe. It pushed back the memory of Lorien, of that fear, as if those things hadn’t happened.

“It’s not bad,” I said softly, then realized that I still had the hem of my gown up and nothing on beneath it. I rushed to drop the dress and cover myself, my cheeks heating.

Char chuckled before heading into the bathroom. “I’ve seen everything already. There isn’t much of a reason to hide it now, right? Besides, who do you think put you in that?”

I frowned, looking at the gown that had gotten picked. It was black and silk, without embellishment. The soft fabric slid easily against the scabs without catching them. “I figured it was Tor.”

Char stopped just behind me, then pressed his fingers against my lips. I parted them for him, trusting him without reservation. Two pills touched my tongue before he handed me the water bottle he had in his other hand. I used it to wash down the pills, not even bothering to ask him what they were. If he’d given them to me, I knew they wouldn’t hurt me.

Char’s lip curled into his half-smile before he leaned in and brushed his lips to mine, as though a reward for me taking my meds like a good girl.

“Those should help with the pain.”

I flushed at his comments, at the way he touched me, the way he made my heart race. How was it that he could turn me mindless so easily? I leaned forward, not wanting the moment to end, to have him steal away my worries a little longer.

Unfortunately, it seemed that wasn’t his plan, because Char chuckled and pulled away. “You’re way too tempting, kitten. Come on, get dressed and come on down. You’ve got to be hungry, and Tor cooked.”

I went to tell him I didn’t care about food, that I had other things I wasfarmore interested in, but the loud growling of my stomach answered instead.

Char dropped his gaze and went silent for one long, mortifying moment, then let out a bark of laughter. “Yeah, that’s what I thought. So get dressed and come down.”

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