Page 62 of Hide or Die

“Shower first, while that monstrosity is filling?” Flynn suggested, putting me down and supporting me until my legs were steady. “You won’t run out of hot water. The place has a tankless heater.”

After spending hours chilled to the bone in my cell, that sounded like heaven. I nodded wordlessly, not trusting my voice.

Jax straightened. “There’s shampoo and conditioner and body wash. I think we covered all of the basics. Kam, will you be all right on your own with her? If so, we’ll give you two some privacy.”

Flynn grumbled something inaudible. Inside my mind, something flipped—a switch clicking from one position to the other.

“You can both stay,” I said. I exchanged a look with Kam. “We want you here.”

God, I wanted them here. Besides, it probablywasa dream, so it’s not like it really mattered anymore. If I was going to die out in the real world, didn’t I deserve this first? Flynn’s brilliant smile in response to my words made it all worthwhile.

“Kam?” Jax asked. “That all right with you?”

A fragile expression that might have been hope lightened Kam’s features.

“We want you here,” he echoed. “Please.”

Jax’s worried expression softened. He still looked haggard, and I was sorry that my subconscious hadn’t restored him to full health.

“Then consider us your spa staff,” he said.

Flynn tugged the hem of my threadbare gray smock. “Want me to burn this?”

“Not until I can watch,” I said, and tugged it over my head with the unconcern of someone who knew deep down that this wasn’t really happening.

Two sets of eyes landed on me appreciatively. Two scents sharpened. Then Flynn’s gaze tracked to my bicep, and he frowned. I looked down and saw the finger-shaped bruises there.

“Do I need to break some necks?” he asked.

My mind shied away from that horrible moment when the police had broken into my bedroom. My arm and the back of my neck began to throb, as though my body had suddenly remembered it was hurt. I swayed in place, and Kam’s arm came around me.

“Let’s table the plans for bloody revenge until a bit later, all right?” he said.

“Yes, let’s,” Jax agreed, watching my expression carefully.

“Sorry,” Flynn said, looking away. “I didn’t mean to upset you, Leona.”

“It’s okay,” I said faintly.

Kam stripped down to his boxers and helped me into the shower. It was spacious and clean, with clear glass-paneled doors. Outside, I could see the two alphas watching us avidly for the first minute or two, until the glass steamed up and obscured them. Was this what it would have been like to have a pack? I blinked at Kam.

“I want this to be real,” I told him, the words sounding a bit bereft even to my own ears.

He pulled me into his arms again and held me there for a long moment before easing me back. “Let’s get the dregs of this day washed off you, okay?”

I nodded, and let him help me wash my hair and body clean of the stench of the jail cell. When we were done, he turned off the shower and opened the door. One of the alphas had laid a trail of towels on the floor separating the shower from the platform with the sunken tub so it wouldn’t be slippery. Flynn took my hand and steadied me from the other side as Kam led me up the low steps and helped me slide into the steaming water.

The alpha gave my knuckles a final rub with his thumb before releasing my hand. Kam lowered himself down next to me in the spacious bath. I sighed with contentment and melted against him, finally free of the bone-deep chill for the first time since I’d been awoken by the sound of men breaking down my door.

Relaxation made my body feel heavy and my mind, slow. I dropped into a half-doze beneath the sensation of Kam’s fingers stroking through my wet hair, with two alphas on guard and no need for me to stay alert. Conversation droned around me, but I couldn’t spare the energy to focus on it. I registered Kam asking, “Is Alex okay? She looked upset,” and Jax replying, “She’s going through some things. Give her time.”

At one point, Flynn’s spicy scent disappeared from the room, and I peeled open an eye.

“It’s all right,” Kam said. “He’s just gone to get you some food.”

I nodded and returned to my mindless dozing, nuzzling my face against Kam’s neck. Eventually, he nudged me back into full awareness.

“Come on.Up. The water’s getting cold, and I’m turning into a prune.”

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