Page 53 of Prey

“This kind of reminds me of that time.”

I was sure the beatings weren’t a happy memory for him, but perhaps the time spent with his mom was because he was smiling a little as he said it.

I couldn’t help but imagine the scared little boy he had once been.

I didn’t know how to mix that image I had of him into this Roman, who was so big and strong, he almost felt invincible.

Almostinvincible.

Today proved that he could still bleed like the next man. Could still get hurt.

I didn’t know why, but my heart hurt from the thought, and I suddenly wished there was something I could do to ensure he would never be hurt again.

I cleared my throat. “How did she die?”

He moved his head to the side and looked at me. “The official police report said that she was in a drowning accident.”

I let out a broken breath of air.

“And unofficially? How did she really die?”

“She was trying to stop her deadbeat husband from stabbing her sons with a fucking knife because he lost big at the horse track, and he was in a fucking bad mood. Shemouthedoff at him—his words. He held her head down under the lake water until she stopped struggling in front of her two boys.”

I slid in closer to him without thinking, wrapping my arms around his waist.

He pulled me in closer to his chest, but I stopped him.

“You’re hurt,” I said.

“It’s on my other side. You’re fine.”

He didn’t give me time to fight him. He pulled me back until I was completely sheltered by his side.

“I’m sorry,” I said because that was all I could say to something like that. There was no magic word to turn back time and give him and Micah back their childhood or even bring their mom back.

“It happened a long time ago,” he replied.

“Doesn’t mean it doesn’t hurt.”

He didn’t say anything for a moment. Then, “I suppose you’re right.”

I snuggled in closer to him, taking in his warmth. Just when I thought I could let him go, he found a way to get back under my skin.

I tightened my arms around him.

I didn’t want to let him go.

8

ROMAN

I satup on the bed, biting back a groan when it caused pressure on my ribs.

Ryleigh was asleep soundly next to me.

The crunch of the tires on the gravel outside the cabin reminded me why I had gotten up in the first place.

Someone was outside.

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