Page 27 of Rivals & Revenge

I swallowed the smile that threatened my lips at the sight that met me. Connor’s scrubs swallowed Tierney whole. She reminded me of a child playing dress-up in her mother’s clothes as she sat on the bed with her feet tucked under her.

“I—I wanted to apologize for earlier. I only meant for us to properly introduce ourselves. I didn’t—”

“No. No.” she started, waving me off. “You were being polite enough, I just—I don’t know. Sorta, forget how to be human sometimes.”

I nodded in agreement. “Yes. You made it personal. But I—” I jammed my hands into my pockets and let my head fall back as I blew out a harsh breath before training my gaze on her. “I don’t know how to quit. Anything.”

A small smile curved her lips. “I don’t imagine either of us likes to lose.”

Laughter bubbled up through my chest. “No. Most definitely not.”

The smiles slid from our faces, the moment of levity over, but the tension that hung between us like a sinister fog had dissipated, leaving behind a comfortable silence.

“I brought you something.” I said, clearing my throat.

Her eyes went wide as I pulled the Walther from my waistband. “I know it’s not your first choice. But she’s reliable. Never jams. Never misses.” I finished laying the weapon on the bed in front of her.

I set the case next to it. “Cleaning her helps clear my mind. Especially when I need to think. I thought you might need something to keep you busy and maybe a—a peace of mind, so you’re not unarmed.”

“Thank you.” She said, her voice tinged with disbelief.

“We need to figure out how to trust each other.”

She nodded but didn’t respond, only running her fingers over the gun as if double checking that it was real, before unzipping the case and carefully inspecting the contents.

When I had almost decided she wasn’t going to respond, her head snapped up, her brows pinched tight and her mouth set in a tight line. “I’ll take good care of her.”

“There’s more if you’re up to it.” I offered, taking a deep breath and pushing it out, a long slow stream.

“Sure.” she said, her own mask slipping into place as she flashed me a coy smile I knew worked well to get her whatever she wanted.

It seemed for now we were both still high on copium. That was Connor’s term for falling back on coping mechanisms instead of facing something head on. I smiled internally, thinking about all the shit she was going to give the two of us over this.

“There isn’t even anywhere in these damned things to put a knife. I feel naked. Larissa better bring me everything I asked for.” She gruffed in that kitten who wants to be a tiger way of hers—fucking adorable.

“Come. I have more to show you and then we really should get some food in that stomach of yours. I’m a decent cook, but if it would make you feel better, I will even allow you to prepare the food. Just—eat.”

She nodded. “My mind is still trying to process everything that’s happened since the grove. None of it makes sense.”

I nodded. It wasn’t like I hadn’t had the same thoughts.

“Maybe we can talk it out over dinner.”

Another half smile. I’d take it. “I’d like that.”

Chapter 17

TIERNEY

“Holy shit!” I whispered, not bothering to tamp down the edge of wonder that crept into my voice.

“Come now. It’s not like you don’t have the same thing at home.” he shrugged, throwing me a knowing smirk.

“Not like this. I have a few dozen knives, maybe closer to a hundred, four pistols and my scout. This—this is—I don’t know, Rossdale, somewhere between art and what I imagine heaven to be.”

A dark chuckle rumbled in his chest, sending a frisson of heat racing down my spine.

“I’ve been at this a lot longer than you. I’ve had more time to collect—tools.”

---