Page 60 of Lure

“I didn’t think I was being one,” I muttered as he stalked back into the kitchen. I followed with a little more caution. Lunchboxdidn’t usuallysnap. Alphabet sat at the table, coffee in hand and a faint smirk on his face. “You planning on hitting me?”

“If I decide to do that, you’ll be the first to know.” He toasted me with the coffee cup.

Snorting, I headed for the espresso machine. I’d barely reached for the portafilter when Lunchbox said, “She’s been through enough. She doesn’t need to just be used for sex.”

Facing him, I raised my brows. “Excuse me?”

“You heard me. She’s been through hell. She’s not here to service us.”

The comment flicked a switch on my temper. “I love you like a brother, but I will take you the fuck apart if you ever say that again. I amnotusing her.”

“Then why the hell did you just go dive into her bed?” The snap in his tone crackled like fire licking over wood.

“I don’t owe you any explanations. The only person with right to that information is Grace. She’s the one that matters.” I wasn’t going to bring up what I saw her doing or how fucking hot it had been to watch. I’d gone up there to be there for her dreams and instead, she was pleasuring herself. “So maybe take the stick out of your ass before I yank it out and beat the shit out of you with it.”

“You want to go a few rounds?” Lunchbox took two steps forward. This shit was new. I expected crap like this from Bones. I talked him down or we went a few rounds. Whatever was eating at Lunchbox needed dealing with, because this was an escalation that went from zero to a hundred.

It was also not him.

“Lunchbox is jealous,” Alphabet said in a tone that was at least partially amused and undeterred when Lunchbox switched his glare to him. “He doesn’t like that you and Gracie have hit it off so well.”

“Too fucking bad,” was my only comment on it. “If this is going to continue to be a problem then we solve it right now. We’re not doing this to her and she doesn’t deserve the vitriol or the bullshit.”

“Oh, that’s what she doesn’t deserve.” Right, all that anger came lasering back to me. “But after she was kidnapped by some trafficking ring, abused, and we know it was sexual, and there’s no way she wasn’t raped, you just drag her into bed and what…?”

“First,” I said, keeping my tone level and my own temper in check. “I didn’t drag her anywhere. Nothing was done with Grace that wasn’t done with her consent. Maybe you missed the memo, but she’s an adult. We might be keeping her here and restricting her movements, but we don’townher.”

That last seemed to rock him back on his heels. Good, maybe I could slap some sense into him without violence. Particularly because I hadn’t had a cup of fucking coffee yet and she could be down here any second. This morning was the first time I’d seen her truly relaxed since we’d met her.

I wasn’t going to letanyonefuck that up for her.

“Second,” I continued, holding my ground. “Since when do you lump me into a category with rapists and abusers? Because if you are and do, then we have a much bigger issue.”

None of them had been in that hotel room with her that night. None of them had seen how broken and desperate she’d been.

Lunchbox held my gaze for a long moment, then bowed his head. “Fuck. I don’t lump you into that category. I know you’re not.” He raked a hand through his hair then stalked over to the stove.

“Like I said,” Alphabet commented. “He’s jealous.”

“Fuck off,” Lunchbox snarled at him over his shoulder, but some of the heat in his tone had definitely bled away.

“Nope,” Alphabet answered with a grin, but he sobered as he looked at me. “You know he has a thing for her too.”

“So do you,” I said, completely aware.

“Not denying it. But also not pushing anything.”

I nodded. “Fair enough. Now, if we’re done with this…”

A door closed, but it wasn’t Grace striding toward us. It was Bones. He had definitely showered and shaved. His eyes were cool as he surveyed the room upon entering the kitchen. “Problems?”

Letting Lunchbox take that one, I returned my attention to the espresso machine. I’d promised her coffee. I was going to make it.

“Nope,” Alphabet said behind me. “We’re just great. How are you?”

Silence greeted his comment and the grinder sounded almost abnormally loud in the room.

“Really?” Bones did not believe him. Well, never let it be said he couldn’t read a room.

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