Page 82 of Wild Card

“Just like five minutes ago, I saw clearly that you love that woman. She may marry someone else, but she’s in your heart.”

When I’m done, my chest heaves and hot tears spill down my cheeks.

He stares at me, his expression now unreadable. In a flash, his shirt is gone and all the breath leaves my body.

Tan skin with ink scrolling in patterns and numbers all the way to his ribcage. Every bit of him is firm, cut, and rippling muscle. It’s like staring at a priceless sculpture.

Flawless.

My eyes scan along his collarbone, shoulders, chest, and the fading marks. Circular scars the size of dimes stain his picturesque body.

The day in the clinic comes back to me.

More tears pour down my face. “Talon?” My voice cracks at the thought of what happened.

“Last December, I intercepted a man trying to kidnap Rowan. In a moment of distraction, he got the upper hand and I had no choice but to surrender. Turns out he wanted information on a case we were working. She was in the sights of a sociopath who thought he could use her for leverage.”

“Oh my God. They tortured you.”

“They thought they had the bigger balls. All I had to do was stall.”

“Stall? You let them hurt you?”

“Didn’t have much choice when they strung me up to a beam and Rowan was in the other room. I was her only protection until my guys showed up.”

He protected her.

“What happened?”

“Punctured lung, dislocated shoulder, broken arm, cuts and bruises. And the burns.”

“That’s how you injured your shoulder?”

“Yeah. Ford came next.”

“Then what?”

“Our guys showed up and got all the fun.”

By fun, I’m assuming he’s not referring to arrests and paperwork.

“Are they all dead?”

His jaw ticks and he gives a short chin jerk.

“Before Ford, Rowan was hooked up with a narcissistic asshole who cheated and beat her. He didn’t take their break-up well and kidnapped her to get her money.”

“She’s been kidnapped twice?”

“You’re right about one thing. I do love her.” He disregards my question. “I love her for many reasons. She’s one of the finest women I know, and most of all because she makes my brother happy. That’s where it ends.”

“And that’s why you didn’t tell me. You don’t think I can handle it? After all we’ve been through?”

Her statement takes on a new meaning.

“You have a strong bond.”

“No matter what happened to me that day, Rowan was my priority. She heard and saw things no one should ever have to. But Rowan is the other half of Ford. Same with Jewls and Major, Ace and Harley. One meeting and you’ll know what I mean.”

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