Page 19 of Spinner's Luck

He didn’t say anything for a moment, just watched me with what looked like understanding. “Nightmares?”

I nodded again, my eyes dropping to my hands, which were still trembling.

“You need to talk about it?”

“No,” I said quickly, too quickly.

He hesitated, then gave a slow nod. “All right. But if you ever do, I’m around.”

With that, he turned and went to lay on the cot in the corner.

I sat there in the quiet, the sounds of Aria’s voice still ringing in my ears.

The nightmare always ended the same way—with her cries fading into silence and the crushing weight of my failure pressing down on me. And no matter how many years passed, I couldn’t shake the feeling that it really was my fault.

I couldn’t save her then. But I could save Zeynep now and those like her.

That was the only thought that kept me going, the only thing that made the nightmares bearable.

THE ROOM HADbeen drenched in darkness, so thickit devoured shadows, but a sliver of moonlight crept in, stretching across the room like pale fingers. I lay on the cot, my hands laced behind my head, staring at the cracked ceiling. The faint sound of Lucy’s breathing filled the space, steady and soft.

It had taken everything in me not to watch her—reallywatch her—as she fell asleep earlier. She was only wearing that damn T-shirt, and I had looked close enough to know she was naked underneath that cotton. I was so fucking attracted to her and not making a move was damn hard—just like my cock right now.

The cot creaked as I shifted, trying to find a position where the metal frame didn’t bite into my back. I was halfway to slipping into a restless sleep when I heard it, so faint at first I thought I imagined it.

A muffled whimper.

I froze, holding my breath, listening.

Then it came again, louder this time, like the sound was being dragged from her throat.

“No... please...”

I shot up, the cot squealing under me as I swung my legs to the floor. My heart kicked hard against my ribs as I turned to look at her. She was curled up under the blanket, her body tense, her face twisted in pain. The soft glow of moonlight streaming through the window caught the tears trailing down her cheeks.

“Lucy,” I said quietly at first, moving to stand beside the bed. “Hey, Lucy, wake up.”

She didn’t respond. Her breathing grew ragged, her fists clenching the sheets like they were her only lifeline.

“No!” she gasped suddenly, her voice hoarse and broken.

“Lucy!” I said, louder this time, my hand reaching out to gently shake her shoulder.

She jolted awake, a sharp intake of breath tearing from her lips as her eyes flew open, wild and glassy. For a second, she wasn’t here with me—she was still there, trapped in whatever nightmare had its claws in her.

“You okay,” I asked softly.

Her chest heaved as she blinked, the terror fading just enough for her to focus on me before she nodded.

“Do you need to talk about it,” I asked, knowing exactly what she was going through.

She stared at me for a beat longer, her dark eyes still wide and haunted. But then she shook her head, curling back into herself as she pulled the blanket up to her chin.

I watched her for another second—just long enough to make sure she wasn’t going to slip back under—but she didn’t move. Her breathing slowed, though it stayed a little too shaky for my liking.

“I’m around if you do,” I offered before walking back to the cot. It protested as I sank onto it, the frame creaking under my weight, but I barely noticed. My gaze stayed fixed on Lucy, her small form tucked against the bed like she was trying to disappear.

I lay back, staring at the ceiling again, but this time sleep wasn’t even a distant possibility.

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