Page 3 of Shielding Lexi (Temptation)

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Reaper

The girl has been sleeping for a little over three hours when I hear some rustling in the back room and decide to check it out. I, for one, couldn’t see how someone could need a nap so badly after just waking up from a full night’s sleep, but maybe it’s the head injury making her tired.

Hawk and Kane are trusting, they always have been. Me, not as much. I suppose one could say it’s because of what happened to my sister, and they’d probably be right. When some asshole wannabe drug dealer takes down an innocent life you cared about, it leaves you desperate for revenge and untrusting to the core.

“You okay in there?” I bark louder than planned.

“Leave her alone, Reap. She’s just having a nightmare,” Hawk calls from the living room.

I turn back and give him a solid stare until he knows I’m not fucking around, then turn the knob on the door, opening it slowly as I peek inside.

I’m not sure what I expect to see, but she’s still laying still on the bed, her long blonde hair tangled around her left arm that’s tucked behind her head. She’s beautiful, I’ll give her that. But I’ve been around long enough to know not to fall for a pretty face. But it’s strange as hell that she washed up like she did.

“Can I help you?” she asks, sitting up slowly. Her voice is shaking a bit and there’s a sense of get the fuck out of here behind her words that she doesn’t outwardly say. There’s a flicker of flint and steel in her eye.

“You’re awake. I thought you were—” I clear my throat. “I heard a noise; I was just checking to see if you were okay.”

She nods restlessly. “How long have I been out?”

“A few hours. How are you feeling?”

“Like I could use a glass of water and a walk. My legs are cramping something awful. You probably heard me kicking in my sleep.”

A walk alone sounds nice. I’d like to get in her head a little, find out more about her. I’m not sure I believe this amnesia shit.

“I’ll take you for a walk then,” I say, moving to the side of the bed to help her up. “Maybe it’ll help jog your memory.”

“Why alone? I mean, maybe Hawk or Kane want to tag along. It’s a beautifu—”

“They’re busy with their own things. I’d like to get to know you a little.” I hold up my hands. “Promise I don’t bite.”

“I can tell you don’t believe me, you know,” she says, looking at me sideways, as she lifts herself from the bed. She’s steadier this time than she was before, but I’m sure she’s still dehydrated.

My eyes narrow, but I stay focused on trying to help her. “It’s not that I don’t believe you, it’s that I don’t trust anyone.”

She pulls back her head. “What’s the difference?”

“One is an insult to you. The other is an insult to everyone.”

She narrows her brows and passes by me, clutching onto the wall as she hobbles down the hall, straightening more and more as we reach the living room.

“Well, if it isn’t sleeping beauty,” Kane says, putting down a book to look our way. “Where are you two headed?”

“A walk. We’ll be back,” I say, grabbing a water bottle from the fridge before making my way back to her side.

“A walk?” Hawk asks with degradation in his tone. “She shouldn’t be walking, not until she can remember something.”

“And you got your Ph.D. where?” I ask, snapping my head backward to look at Hawk.

He doesn’t answer, only widens his stance.

Fucker.

“Actually,” the girl says, “I asked for the walk, but you guys are welcome to come. We shouldn’t be long. It looks like it’ll be dark soon anyhow.”

Hawk stays firm in place before she’s even finished her sentence, but I shoot him eyes that tell both he and Kane this walk isn’t for them.

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