Page 288 of The Reluctant Hero

“And the victims?” Gabriel’s voice is a wash of ice over their happiness.

“Amanda had everything set up,” Shade comments absently. “Everyone is being taken care of. Families have been contacted, and some are being released from the hospital to go through detox. There’s enough money left that they’ll be well off for the rest of their lives.”

“Good,” Gabriel lets out a tight breath of relief.

“I’m out. Wedding planning calls.”

Shade sounds so smug about it that I have to hold back my laugh.

“Shade,” Gabriel calls, his tone softening.

“What?” He snaps back.

“Thank you. For everything.”

I’m proud of the fact that Gabriel doesn’t hesitate to say it.

“Whatever.” The dismissive comment is made in a tense voice before Shade’s throat clears. “This Saturday. Wedding. Wear a suit.”

“I’ll be there.”

A door closes softly, and people loudly shift around the room.

“We do have one issue,” Mikael says so softly I barely hear it.

I can’t stand it any longer.

“Can you guys shutthe fuckup so I can go back to sleep?” I yell, squeezing my eyes tight in frustration.

A lot of muttering I can’t make sense of follows. It’s quiet enough that it becomes background noise. I’m almost asleep again when the bed dips behind me.

“You’ve gotta be kidding me,” I mutter in resignation. “I'm hurt, tired, and cranky as fuck. Save yourself and walk away.”

“No,” Gabriel whispers. A body settles along my back as an arm carefully slides under the covers to wrap around my waist.

“Oh, it’s you. I guess I should have saidrunaway. That’s more your forte.” The bitter grumble has me hunching defensively. Unfortunately, it makes my butt press against him.

“You did the same,” his aggravated tone amps my anger up. This fucker has no right to be pissed off. I’m the reigning champ of rage in this bed. He can’t have my crown.

“You wanted me to wait around for whatever bullshit comment you were going to make? If I grossed you out that much, why did you bother touching me? Are you that desperate to have your pick-me cries answered? Don’t answer that. It was rhetorical.”

“You are unbelievable.”

“You’re a dick,” I snap back.

“I wasn’t grossed out. I was scared!”

“You big fucking baby,” I sputter out in disbelief. “That’s what you’re going with? You were overwhelmed withfeels?”

“Iwas,” he grits out. “Heaven forbid I have any dignity left with you.”

“Dignity? More like the popsicle that’s lodged in your ass to prop you up is sliding out. What are you, a weak-kneed virgin after her first time? Am I supposed to take responsibility now?”

“You’re not even making sense.”

“I’m on pain meds, asshole. You get what you get.”

The heavy, frustrated sigh he lets out blows my hair over my face.

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