Page 4 of Ensnared

Beaushoots me a dirty look. “Stopscaring my patient.”

Thewords are light, but they carry an edge that tells meBeauis liking the idea of thispatientfar too much.Also, funny how his accent just smooths out to a barely perceptible drawl when he’s sniping at me.Thepetty part of me wants to point it out to the mouse.

Iflip him off, then pause as my gaze catches on the girl again.

Oh, great.Realnice.

“Howdid you hurt your arm?”Isnap.Thewound is fresh, still leaking blood.

Thewoman flinches, then instinctively looks toBeaufor help.Beaufrowns at me, then hesitates and studies her bloody arm himself.Worryand anger darken my friend’s smooth, tanned face.

“Whoshot at you, darlin’?” he asks gently.

Shehesitates, wound tight.Thenshe takes a deep, shuddering breath and closes her eyes.

“Ineed to go.Ihave to go.”Hervoice is tentative, like she doesn’t use it often.Shelooks atBeau, studiously avoiding my livid gaze. “Youshould go too.It’s... not safe here.”

“Oh, sweetheart, it’s not safe anywhere.Didn’tyou get the memo?”Luckysaunters over from the river, giving me a wide-eyed ‘don’t get mad,I’mdone’ look.

Hischeek dimples as he smiles at her, clear even under his short beard.Womenalways loveLucky’sdimples.

Dick.

“Don’tyou worry your pretty head, though.We’lltake care of you now.I’mLucky—andIguess you are too, since you found us.”

Luckyseems oblivious to her unimpressed grimace as he eyes her approvingly.

No,enough.

“Shutup,Lucien.”Hisnose crinkles at the use of his full name, and he tosses me a wounded look thatIignore. “We’renot taking her anywhere.We’resticking to the plan.Beau, finish up; we’re out.”

Beauopens his mouth to protest when a punishing crack of gunfire thunders through the forest.Andsuddenly her fear clicks.

Shit.They’retracking her.

Thewoman’s gaze swings to mine, those unusual eyes filled with dread, andI’mcaught.Accused.Hernaked fear tugs at all my protective instincts—but this isn’t the old world, andI’mnot putting my men at risk for a stranger.Wedon’t do that anymore.

Beaustands up.I’monly an inch taller, butIuse it to glare down on him.

Heshakes his head, not biting. “Coolit.Howfar away?”

Itonly takes me a moment of thought. “Fiveminutes, maybe less.”Iset my jaw and meet my friend’s eyes. “Dumpher and let’s go.”

“FuckingJesus,Dom,”Luckymutters, but my gaze doesn’t leaveBeau.

Beauwavers.Amuscle in his jaw ticks.Thenhe scrubs a hand over his short brown hair and looks back at me.Hiseyes are gentle with understanding. “Can’tdo it, my friend.Won’tdo it.Weneed her.”

Not.Fucking.This.Again.

BeforeIcan speak, my friend of over fifteen years says, “Geton if you have to.Iget it,Ido.Butthe rest of us just don’t see it the same.We’vebeen waiting for this.”

Anothershot sounds.

It’sclose.

Chapter3

Eden

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