Page 17 of Kings & Carnage

I gave my credit card to Drago and he reached for the door.

"I wear an extra-large in everything," Neo said.

"I know," Drago said.

I could almost see him rolling his eyes.

"Don't you need to know my size?" Willa asked.

Drago glanced back at her with a smirk. "You think I don't know your size, tiger?"

It was dark in the backseat but I was pretty sure Willa blushed. It was one of the most adorable things about her. It wasn’t like she was some kind of sheltered virgin. She'd been through hell and back, had traveled the world alone and had probably had a few hookups along the way.

Not that I liked to think about that. In fact, I tried really fucking hard not to think about that because it was one of very few things that made me want to smash something. I wasn't naïve. I knew Willa had been with other men before us — I just didn't like to think about it.

But even with all of that, she could still seem shy and I couldn't help but find it hella cute.

Drago shut the door behind him and we watched as he made his way toward the truck stop. He'd parked away from the streetlamps that illuminated the parking lot but when he finally made his way to the light that emanated from the complex, I saw how bad it looked.

I didn't know if Drago had been limping when we'd raced through the hospital and out into the parking lot, but he was limping now, obviously wounded, hair askew and looking like he was coloring with a few crayons short of a full box.

It didn't look good. and I sighed and sat back against the seat, hoping he could get in and out before drawing too much attention to himself.

Willa slid across the long backseat and pressed against my side. She touched my head gently. "Are you okay? How are you feeling?”

I put my arm around her and drew her close, savoring the feel of her body against mine even as shame twanged through my body like a bad chord. “I'm just fine, kitten. Don't worry about me. How are you? We haven't had much time to talk.”

“I'm fine too," she said. "Thanks to you.”

"Thanks to me?”

"You were the one driving when they came after us," she said. "Neo and Oscar both got shot. You kept me alive.”

I shook my head. "Can't take credit for that. If those people hadn't stopped…”

I only vaguely remembered the moment right after the car rolled, but I remembered a white minivan stopping at the top of the embankment, the driver peering over the edge, my relief as Roberto’s men sped off right before I sank into unconsciousness.

"But they did. And you were the one driving and giving orders while they were shooting and trying to run us off the road," she said.

It was a paltry contribution to her safety but it wasn't her job to soothe my wounded ego.

I kissed the top of her head. "I'm just glad you're okay.”

"We should split up when we get inside," Neo said from the front seat. "We can't afford to take anything for granted, and Drago is drawing attention in there whether we like it or not. It'll be better once we’re all in real clothes, but someone might remember him and we’re going to look suspicious as fuck.”

"Agreed," I said.

"You and Willa grab all the food you think we’ll need for the next couple of days," Neo said. "I'll find first aid supplies and Drago can get toiletries and burner phones.”

"Willa should go with you or Drago," I said.

Willa shifted and looked up at me. "Why? Someone should be with you.”

"I don't need a babysitter, kitten." I kissed the top of her head to soften my words. I wasn't mad at her. I was mad at myself, and I didn't trust myself to protect her anymore. "And you'll be safer with Neo or Drago.”

Her luscious mouth turned down in a frown and I bent my head to kiss her. I was all kinds of fucked-up, my head pounding like someone had taken a jackhammer to it, my body aching, my broken arm starting to throb.

And that was just the physical stuff.

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