Page 32 of No Escape

He got hurt protectingme.

Or maybe he just needed to prove a lesson of what wouldn’t be allowed within the facility, but either way, it makes my chest tight.

I cross the room before I know what I’m doing, grabbing the open bottle of water and a paper towel.

Omen side-eyes me as I pour the liquid onto it. “Good luck.”

Valor sits in one of the two chairs at the little table, but he’s facing the room. Moving between his spread thighs, I nod for him to remove the paper towel from his eye.

“It’s just water. It shouldn’t sting too badly, and if it does…” I shrug, trying to keep my hands from shaking. “Then suck it up. There’s dried blood that needs to be cleaned off so your wounds can be properly sanitized.”

“You’re bossy,” Valor rumbles in his deep, gravelly tone.

“She is, isn’t she?” Omen laughs. “I’ll leave her to mother-hen your injuries. That way, I don’t have to.”

Raising the wet paper towel, I step closer to reach Valor’s eye and end up tripping over his massive booted foot. I would love to know why they’re allowed actual shoes, and I’m in a pair of hospital socks.

His hand lands on my lower back and hip, settling me. “Careful.”

Who knows why the word vibrates through my body, but I swear I can feel echoes of it in my knees, making them weak.

His indescribable scent is even thicker being this close to him, and I was already pretty saturated just from being in his T-shirt. He doesn’t remove his hold just above my ass, and it takes every bit of focus I can muster to get to work on cleaning the dried blood from his skin.

His fingers flex against my lower back, and his jaw clenches, but he doesn’t snarl at me the way he did at Omen.

I stay focused on my task and do my best not to get too close to his cuts. I’ve never seen the beginnings of a black eye before, but the hollow under his eye is purple, and I’m guessing that will only darken as the days pass. “How long do they usually lock you in for?”

“Last night, they locked us down early, but that was because of you and the other omega.” Valor shrugs.

“For punishment?” Omen asks. “Anywhere from two to five days, depending on how pissed they are.”

All the air seems to evaporate from the cell.

“You said you wanted to make a deal,” he reminds me while I’m still spiraling about being trapped in this small space with these two men I don’t even know.

“Yeah,” I agree, sounding dazed. To keep my hands busy, I lean over the table and grab the antibacterial ointment. “I told you, I was taken against my will, but my father employs a company that does kidnapping retrieval services.”

Valor hisses, his fingers digging into my lumbar region. I haven’t even applied the cream yet, so he must be reacting to my words.

“My family will pay to get me out. One of the men who I talked to after intake swore he would notify my dad.” I dab the ointment onto my finger and prepare to slather Valor’s wounds, but his gaze is focused on Omen. My head swivels, glancing between them. I’m not sure what that look means, and a shiver runs down my spine. “If you keep me safe until I can be extracted, I’ll make sure they get you out of here too.”

“No,” Valor growls, shaking his head. “I’m here for a reason.”

“Rule number one, pet,” Omen says. “Trust no one in this place. Everyone lies.”

“Even you?” I ask over my shoulder before focusing back on the alpha, who looks like he might chip a tooth. “Don’t move. Or do. Totally up to you, but I’m going to be dabbing your cuts.”

Valor grunts.

“Why would he lie?” I get to work, brushing the ointment over the gashes on Valor’s eyebrow and nose.

“To keep you docile and compliant, of course,” Omen says in a jovial tone.

His words make my stomach clench.

“Okay, then, let’s brainstorm a backup plan.” Grabbing the paper towel, I clean off my finger and snag the butterfly bandages from the first aid kit. “I think these will be enough for your eyebrow.”

Valor shrugs, and since he doesn’t object, I get to work placing those.

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