Page 5 of Shielding Lexi (Temptation)

She narrows her eyes and shakes her head.

“Well, they fucked me over pretty good,” I say, feeling a bullet of rage shoot through me. “That’s their boat.”

Lexi peeks through the palms with me, studying the yacht as it makes its way past the island. “If they’re after you, why didn’t they stop?”

I study her face, taking in the soft blue of her eyes and the way the setting sun changes the color of gold in her hair. She looks so trusting, so innocent, and honest. But that’s exactly what she wants me to think. It’s probably why they chose her to come here.

“Don’t you think it’s a little odd that you wash up in the same twenty-four hours that the Daggers start doing loops around the island? They’re obviously looking for something.”

She raises her brows and crosses her arms over her chest. “You’re really not going to quit with this, are you?”

“You tell me what you’d think? The guy that…” my fists clench and my throat swells, “the guy that hurt my baby sister just happens to sail by within the same twenty-four hours that you show up on this island, not remembering a damn thing.” I shrug my shoulders. “I know you’ve lost your memory,” I say with a bite of sarcasm. “But you gotta say, that seems off, right?”

She rolls her eyes and steps from behind the tree, putting herself in clear view of the boat as it turns the corner to circle the island. “Well, if they’re looking for me, then let ‘em take me, cause I’m not getting anywhere here with you.”

3

Lexi

Reaper reaches out and grips my forearm firmly, pulling me back into the brush. “What the fuck are you doing?” he spits, and I’m sure he’s left indents on my forearms.

“What?” I huff, yanking my arm away from his grasp. I can feel my brow furrow with anger and my pulse begins to speed. What is it with this asshole?

He stares me down with a look in his eyes that’s a cross between irritation and concern, and I wonder if I’ve pushed him too far.

“Lexi,” he finally says with a clenched jaw. “Did you come from that boat?”

My temples throb and a harsh headache begins to needle at my eyes.

“I don’t know,” I answer. “I can’t remember!” I’m trembling now.Did I come from that boat? Did someone throw me? Did I fall?Why would I be hanging out with anyone calling themselves Devil’s Daggers? I don’t know me, but I don’t think that’s what I’d do. Then again, what if that boat is none of the things he says? What if he’s blocking me from being found?

My chest tightens and a fluttering takes over my stomach as I sink down into the sand again, butt first.

I can’t tell if he’s taking pity on me, or if he needs to look me in the eye to manipulate me properly. Either way, he lowers himself onto the sand next to me. “Look, until we figure out exactly who you are, I think it’s best to stay hidden, okay?” He looks toward me, gripping my shoulder firmly until my eyes draw up to his. “I’m serious. Unless you have a death wish for all of us, you need to listen.” He’s not kind with his words, rather growling.

I pull my arm away from his touch and look back out at the horizon through long pointed leaves, studying the tiny barbs on the tips more so than the water. I don’t want to make things more difficult than they need to be, but I’m scared and every part of me wants to trust anyone but this guy. He’s damaged and angry and it has nothing to do with me. I need to figure out a way to get clear of him.

“Are you hearing me?” he growls again, his voice ragged, his hands back on his lap as we watch the boat finally speed off away from the small island back out into open water.

I nod, but as much as my brain tells me to be quiet, my lips keep moving. “I’m causing trouble for you by being here, and I don’t want to be a burden. If you can help me back to the mainland, I can get to a police station and then I’ll be out of your hair for good.”

Reaper jumps to his feet. “No police! They can’t help you.” His deep voice rumbles right through me. He wipes away moisture that’s gathering at his brow with the back of his hand and onto his jeans, then takes a deep breath.

“Why don’t you want me to go to the police?” I ask, with a lump in my throat like I’m unwiring a bomb. “I haven’t done anything wrong.”

“We don’t know what you have or haven’t done!”

I shake my head and blow air into my cheeks before releasing it. “You’re kidding, right? You think I had something to do with whatever you’re worried about? What did these Dagger guys do? Is this about your sister?”

His face reddens and his fingers tense. He turns his back to me, stuffs one hand in his pocket and rubs an open palm across his forehead and over the top of his head.

Whoops. Now the bomb is about to explode.

“I’m sorry if I’m pushing,” I say, desperately trying to diffuse him. “I’m just scared. I don’t want to be associated with someone who’s done awful things, and I—”

He glares at me before standing from the sand to walk away. I could run, take my chances on the island, but it’s small. They’d find me for sure and make things ten times worse. And I’m sure as hell not getting back in the water again. I’m not strong enough yet. Maybe I’ll be in a few days, once I get a solid meal and more water.

I let out a sigh and follow behind Reaper, noting every firm muscle on his body as he moves. Not because I’m checking him out, but because he’s intimidating as hell. His shoulders, his back, his arms—he’s huge.

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