Page 9 of Ensnared

Amuscle ticks inDom’sjaw. “Goddamnit,Lucky.Thiswon’t work.Weall pull our weight, that’s the rule.Shecan’t even take care of herself.”

Forthe first time,Isee discomfort in him.Inanother man,I’dcall it panic.

Beausnorts. “’Courseshe can.She’lldo her part.”

Theconfident implication in his voice has my stomach flipping and dropping all at once.Arethey arguing over whether tokeepme?

Onelook atBeau’sexpression tells me that my suspicions are correct.AndDom... well, it’s clearDomdoesn’t want me.Hecouldn’t look more disgusted by me if he tried.

Notthat it matters,Idon’t want to go with them anyway.OfcourseIdon’t.Ireally, truly don’t.Thiswas a fluke.Oneslip in four years.I’lljust be more careful next time.Idon’t need them at all.Idon’t need anyone.

Sowhy does it sting so much?a voice taunts, oneIthoughtI’dbanished years ago.Theonly woman within who knows how many miles and you’re still not good enough.

Icringe.

No.Ineed to leave.Thesemen might not have thrown me on the ground and ravished me, but to have survived this long, they’re surely not so different from the menI’vebeen running from.Right?Noneof them, not even jaunty-whistlingLucky, have spared more than a glance at the body pieces that splatter the clearing like aJacksonPollockpainting.

But...

Beau’sgentle touch as he tended my foot flashes into my mind.Theway he cradled me against his chest asIcried.

Myemotions are smattered and smeared, my thoughts a jumble.

“She’lldo her part,”Beaurepeats.

“Thisisn’t necessary,”Iinterject, banishing my internal chaos and forcing librarian sternness into my tone. “Ican take it from here.Truly.”

CanI, though?I’vebeen running for so long,Idon’t even know whereIam anymore, let alone how to reach the nearest town to resupply.Ikeep my face composed, but the thought of starting again, by myself, from scratch, with nothing but the knife at my belt and the clothes on my back, is not a pleasant one.

Luckyseems to sense my doubt and moves closer, slinging an arm around my shoulders conspiratorially and ticking off his fingers one by one. “Wehave showers and spare beds.Propercooking equipment.Theplace is completely hidden, very high-tech, so it’s secure against assho—”Hecoughs. “Uh, charm-challenged folks like your friends here.There’salso no chance of a drone spotting us, on the off chance one happens to pop up again.Wehave clothes, food.Icould go on.”

He’sso close, and sizzling warm, and all firm and confusing, and even the thought of food is enough to make my whole body clench hungrily.Ishrug him off, feeling overwhelmed.Byhim, byallof it.

Assoon asIpull back,Luckygives me an apologetic wince. “Sorry, sweetheart.Notpushing,Ipromise.”Hehesitates, looking me over, then frowns. “Ibet you haven’t eaten much, huh?”

Heopens his pack, pulls out a wrapped cloth and hands it to me.Aftera moment of wavering,Ipeel back the corner of the fabric... to find a large chunk of hard cheese.Cheese!Mymouth waters.

“It’snot much, but it should be edible.Imade it.Kindof.Thegoat helped.”Hegives me a nervous smile, butI’mstill staring at the gorgeous hunk in my hands.Actualcheese.Hemust mistake my awe for hesitation because he adds, “Imean,Ihave jerky too, but...”

Weboth avoid looking at the vile clearing.

Despitemy resolve to walk away, it’s his kindness—as much as the cheese—that makes me pause.

“Thankyou,”Imurmur, my voice husky and thick. “Thisis wonderful.”

Itwould be more polite to wait untilIwas alone to eat, but my stomach has been gnawing on my nerves for days.Ibreak off a piece and pop it in my mouth... and only just manage to muffle a soft groan of pleasure.Quickly,Idevour two more pieces.It’sincredible.Almostorgasmic.

Andthe cheese, more than anything, makes me wonder what this home of theirs must be like.Ittakes resources to make cheese.Time.Security.Patience.

Forcingmyself to pause,IgiveLuckya small, grateful smile, and his face relaxes in relief.

“Comewith us, sweetheart.We’llkeep you safe,” he says, so softly. “Youwon’t have to worry about this sort of thing”—his head tilts to indicate the corpses decorating the area—“ever again.”

Itsounds like a promise.

Swallowing,Itake a calming breath.HowamImeant to keep my resolve while he’s looking at me like that?Ican’tbe considering this.

There’salways a catch.

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