Page 29 of The Verdict

“Seems like more than that.”

“You know better than to think I’d have that kind of care for a woman I’ve fucked,” I snarled low, drawing on every inch of the armor I’d crafted over the years—a cold-blooded Casanova only able to spare a single night. “Out of all of you, I’m the only one who’s ever been capable of getting fucked without being fucked over, so don’t come at me because you’re afraid of reliving your own fucking mistakes.”

He flinched like I’d struck him, but I refused to feel guilty. If I did—if we did—no one would ever jolt Dare out of his spiral of self-loathing.

He’d fallen for the woman who’d betrayed our unit. Maybe it wasn’t smart, but neither was it his fault. He didn’t knowshe’d been turned. None of us did. But he still blamed himself every day for Ryan’s death—for almost all of our deaths.

Sometimes, the only way to make Dare see what was right in front of him, rather than every weight he carried behind him, was to jolt him with the hard truth.

If he didn’t want to trust Merritt, fine. But he couldn’t just ignore the facts because he thought I was too close to her to see any lies. I wasn’t too close, I wanted to assure him.Trust me, there was no such thing as too close when it came to how I felt about Merritt Manning.

I didn’t worry about her innocence in the slightest. I worried that even if I’d walked into that house and saw the bloody knife in her hands, I still would’ve brought her back here to protect her.I worried what I seemed willing to risk even if she were guilty.

I guess it was a good thing I was certain that she wasn’t.

Chapter Six

Rhys

Answers.I was here for answers. About Wheaton, but also about her. And that night.

I banged on the door to the cabin, the toasted bagel warming my palm through the foil and a bag of groceries in my other hand. Ty offered to pick up food later to stock the fridge; I planned on telling him I was up early and needed a distraction. The reality was I hadn’t slept and needed an escape.

Knowing she was here. Down the hall from me. Alone in bed.Orgasming to my name.Fuck if that didn’t torture a man in ways that were indescribable.

“Merritt!” I called. If she didn’t answer again?—

“Good morning.” Her voice wrapped around me as soon as the door swung open.

I sucked in a breath. Any hope that the novelty of my fantasy had worn off—especially after Dare’s warning—was lost when I saw her.

One swipe. One tumble of my gaze down her curves—every dip and valley fitted into Rob’s borrowed clothes—was like sinking into quicksand. I tore my eyes away, fighting for breath.

“Breakfast and groceries,” I grunted and let myself in as she took the bagel.

“Thanks.” She followed me into the kitchen, my steps quick through the bedroom. The unmade bed only adding another layer to my torture. “And thank you for dropping off food and clothes last night,” she said slowly, unwrapping the foil and waiting for me to face her before she added, “I think I was in the shower when you came.”

And when you came.The thought had me rock-solid in an instant.God fucking dammit.

“You were,” I managed to say, yanking open the fridge and practically shoving myself inside it.Maybe that would cool off the way she burned through my blood.

“Where did you get them?”

I paused. “The food?”

“The clothes.”

I began stacking groceries onto the shelves. Milk. Eggs. Deli meats and cheese. “My boss’s adopted sister. She keeps extra clothes here for when she stays.”

“She stays with you?”

I almost choked on an inhale. “God, no. She has her own cabin.” Too late, I realized what I’d revealed.There was more than one cabin. For guests. For Rob. For me.

“You live here?”

“Yeah.” I turned and set the bag of bagels and sliced bread on the counter, meeting her eyes. “Did you sleep okay?”

“You mean for being wanted for murder?” she deadpanned and then took another bite of her bagel and cream cheese.

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