Page 139 of Sawyer

“You stink,” he mutters before grabbing me by the arms and hauling me out, only to drop me on the floor to stare up at the industrial ceiling.

Finally, I take a deep breath and expand my lungs. “How did you know?”

“That you’d crawl through a pipe?” He hovers over me like the avenging angel he is. It’s sexy, I’ll admit it. “I didn’t.”

“Glad you found me.”

“Purely by chance.” He smirks, and I can’t tell if he’s fucking with me or not. It feels like he’s being genuine with me, but it also feels like he’s not, so I’m confused.

“Chance,” I repeat, tasting the word.

“You’re in the laundry room.” He reaches his hand out for me, and I slap my palm into his, letting him haul me up. “Fuck, you are rancid.”

“Thank you.” I had to shed everything in order to crawl through that pipe that looks like it’s for water drainage. “Why’s it so thick?” I question. “Though I’m thankful, but it’s thick.”

“You don’t want the answer to that.” Rumor grabs my arm. “Come on, before you get caught.”

He’s wearing fashionable white scrubs that do absolutely nothing for his figure. “I think the fumes in that hole made me weird.” Sweat beads on my forehead as it hits me that I’m finally in here with him and my pack is close. The relief makes me stagger.

“There’s a shower over here, and I can fill you in.” Rumor leads me to a little locker room with multiple showers.

I pull clothing off as I stumble toward clean water and soap. My entire body aches and shivers as I reach for the faucet and flip it on.

I don’t expect the ice-cold water when it hits me, and I yelp then adjust it so it’s hot. Damn, that feels good. As the shaking subsides, Rumor joins me in the large shower area.

“What time is it?” I use the soap dispenser and pump it ten times, knowing not even that will be enough to get me clean. If I’m being honest, I need at least a gallon of bleach.

“Just after midnight.” Rumor leans against the tiled wall, uncaring that he’s getting hit with the spray of water. “How do you feel?”

“What are you talking about?” I shake out my hair and reach for more soap, my fingers still shaking.

“Listen, I know you drank heavily. I’m asking how you feel.”

I pause as the implication hits me in the gut. “You think I’m in withdrawal?”

“I know you are.” One dark brow lifts to his hairline as he gazes at me skeptically. I don’t blame him, not really, but he doesn’t need to be a cunt about it.

Time to be honest. “I had over four of the elixirs.” I reach for more soap and go about scrubbing my body. My hands do little more than spread the soap around. I wish I had a sponge or a loofah. Hell, anything to help me scrub my skin raw because my hands just aren’t cutting it. I don’t even have any calluses. “In fact, I originally purchased fifty.”

“With Daddy’s money, I assume?” There’s a bite to his words that I don’t understand.

“Of course.”

“Good.” He reaches into his pocket and pulls out two elixirs. No, a tonic and an elixir. “Healing and a nutrient booster.” Then he reaches into his other pocket and pulls out a few protein bars. “You’re going to need it.” He hands me the healing elixir first.

I pop the cap one-handed and throw it back, letting the sweet liquid hit my taste buds. It’s like ambrosia in a dry desert. “What are you delaying?” I could be done with my shower, but… “Smell me.”

“Wash again,” he says without smelling me, which tells me all I need to know.

I make the water a little hotter and start from head to toe a third time. “Tell me.”

“You won’t like it,” he warns.

“You fucking think?” There isn’t a damn thing to like about this place.

“I’ve counted a dozen gammas and only six omegas,” he whispers as though someone might hear us, which they just might because we are out in the open, but I’m trusting Rumor. He looks relaxed, even though there’s tension in the corners of his eyes.

“That’s it?” That doesn’t feel right.

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