Page 114 of Ensnared

Luckyplaces a gentle hand onJasper’schest. “She’llbe okay,Jasper.She’ssmart—she’ll have caught up withBeauandDom.They’llkeep her safe.”

Jasperstills atLucky’stouch.Hischin drops as he looks down at the hand on his chest.Aftera moment, he takes another breath and nods sharply.Then, wrapping his long fingers aroundLucky’swrist, he removes his hand from his chest.

Withoutlooking at the other man, he starts moving again.

“I’mpulling the cameras up.”

Lucky’sfingers curl into a fist, but his face stays expressionless as we followJasperupstairs.Itonly takes him minutes to flick through the cameras.Wecatch glimpses of her onC7and thenC14.Obliviousto the screens catching her movement,Edenwalks confidently, a small smile on her face.Shestops only briefly to examine the ground or the leaves.

Outin nature, with the trees and dappled light all around, she looks more than pretty.She’s... she’s one of those stupid wordsJasperwould use.Aword like extraordinary.Sublime.

Breathtaking.

Damnit.Maybeit’s not heartburn.Somethingis seriously wrong with me ifI’mquotingI-only-drink-water-with-a-squeeze-of-lime himself.

“Whatwere the stamps on those?”Luckyasks, then whistles low. “She’smaking good time.”

Jasperflicks through a few more screens, and a flash of color on one makes him stop.Apink scrunchie is pinned to a tree.

Luckyleans in. “Whichone is that?”

“C17.”

Jasperpulls up the logs and rewinds through the video.Whenthe time hits less than an hour, three figures appear.BeauandDomloom overEden, who is trapped between them, looking miserable.Aftera moment, she turns to the camera and mouths, “Sorry.”Shewrings her clasped hands.

Domlooks at the camera and shakes his head firmly.Graspingher by the back of the neck, he turns her and pushes her inBeau’sdirection.Beaugrimaces, then walks her out of view.Domgives us a final look, raising one hand in a clear “stop” motion.

“Pft,”Imutter. “I’mgoing after them.”

“Don’t,”Jaspertells me, sounding tired. “Juststay put.Theyhave her.She’ssafe.”

“Yeah.Right.Likethey won’t choose each other over her if it comes to it.”

Worryscrapes at my insides.Anythingcould happen to her out there.Shithappens all the time—my brother is proof of that.Maybesheshouldbe our prisoner.Assoon as we get her back,I’mputting a collar on her and tying her to the damn wall.

Princessesshouldn’t be let out of their towers... that’s what monsters like us are for.

“Beauwouldn’t let that happen.”Luckyfrowns.

“Hewouldn’t,”Jasperagrees. “Neitherof them would.Wehave our own job to do.”

“Thenmaybe you should do it.”

Iwork up a smirk at him, the oneIknow he hates, and let myself enjoy the flash of rage behind his eyes.Ina lot of ways, he’s just like her.Pretty, pampered.Somethingsnarled and starless curls in my chest, beating alongside the panic.Someonelike him couldn’t protect someone like her.He’dnever get how dangerous it could be for her, not really.

Mysneer turns ugly. “Firstyou didn’t notice three cameras are down, and nowEdenwalks out.Howdid you miss that?Youeven know how to work these things?Ifshe gets hurt, it’s on you.”

Jasperstiffens, lips pressed together.Besidehim,Luckysighs and gives me a disapproving look.

Mysmirk fades, andIglower back atLucky.Whatever.Edenis out there, about to be in the middle of a firefight because of him.Heshould have been watching her.Heshould have made sure she was safe.

Weall should have.

Ishould have.

Restlessand uncomfortable, my eyes drift back to the camera whereEdendropped out of frame.

“They’llkeep her safe,”Luckyrepeats.

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