Page 99 of Debt of My Soul

Seconds go by while my chest rises and falls in time with the gusts of sideways rain.

Fleur lowers her hand, and it’s then I notice the split in her bottom lip. I stalk toward her, intent on inspecting her face at a closer distance.

Up close, the rain soaks her braided hair, mud and leaves caked in it. Her eyes search mine, darting back and forth. Impatience pushes me to step forward until I’m mere inches from her.

She watches me, scanning my face, but it’s not in judgment. Each cut she lingers on adds a layer of appreciation deep in my chest. Her nose crinkles when she gets to the blood smeared over my cheek and temple.

“Who—” Her voice comes out in a ragged whisper and dies off before she can continue. She tries again, the rasping worse. “Who were those?—”

Gently, and careful not to touch her cut, I press my pointer finger to her lips, silencing her attempt to strain her voice. The warmth of her breath sends heat low in my gut, and I drag her lip down to inspect her small laceration. Her tongue darts out to lick her upper lip, and the fraction of contact with my finger sends lightning sensations ticking through my whole body. I want my mouth on hers again.

The need is so strong I drop back a few steps, lowering my hand to keep from tasting her thoroughly.

This is not the time or place, and the fact I’m considering this after what happened to her is disturbing.She’s safe, I remind myself. That’s what matters. If I hadn’t gotten to her in time. If I’d?—

I grind my teeth.

“We need to get you back to the cabin. I’ll meet with Darrin quickly and return as fast as I can, okay?”

Fleur crosses her arms over her wet shirt, drawing my attention to the goosebumps peppering them. The stare she gives me quickly breaks into sad eyes welling with tears. With a longing look out into the endless woods, she offers me a nod and turns back toward the compound.

Chapter 38

Fleur

Water splashes out of the tub the more frustrated I get scrubbing the blood and dirt from my fingernails. The white washcloth is practically pink from the scrapes and minor injuries from my struggle.

When we emerged from the woods, Liam walked me back to the cabin. With a kiss to my temple, he left again, needing to check in with Darrin and work with the guys to start the clean-up, I guess.

I sink down into the water, letting the warmth wash over the many bruises already forming on my legs and arms. A round bruise from where the raged man dug his knee into my side blooms across my ribs. With each movement, I wince.

I didn’t plan on hearing Liam until well past the time I crawled into bed, so when the door slams shut, I bolt up, sending more water to slosh over the side. I scramble to get out, but a knock on the door has me freezing mid-exit.

“It’s only me.” Liam’s voice immediately calms my worry, and I slowly sink back into the water. His voice has always brought me some sort of relief and protection, even when I barely knew him.

Instead of moving on, the click of the door startles me again, and I duck in the tub when Liam pokes his head in.

“How are you doing?” He makes special effort to hold my eyes and keep from dragging them across my body.

“I’m okay. You?”

“If you’re okay, I’m okay.” He offers me a sad smile and moves to close the door.

I’m not sure what comes over me, but the thought of that being the end of our conversation rattles me. “Stay,” I beg. “Please.”

Liam pauses, his hand white-knuckling the door, and it creaks as he pushes it farther open. He stands there, seemingly paralyzed, but eventually allows the door to click behind him.

“Did you get everything taken care of?” I ask. “And … do you know if the girl I was with is okay?”

“Yeah. Well, sort of. We lost one of our guards, Sam. The others are getting patched up at the clubhouse now. Fortunately, most of what needs to be repaired can be easily fixed. And Roe, thanks to you, is okay.”

I nod and exhale a breath.

Liam shrugs his shoulders and folds down to sit, back propped against the door. I fumble beneath the water with the bands across my wrist. I’m not sure what it is about Liam that makes me feel so out of control yet more emboldened than ever before.

“Thank you, Liam. Thank you for coming for me.”

His head snaps to mine and I work to swallow, the lump in my throat unable to slip down.

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