Page 28 of Wrecker

“Having a building collapse on top of you is bound to do that to a person,” Alice muttered, shaking her head.

“You definitely deserve a cup of coffee after all that.” Gemma set a full mug on the table. “Want creamer or sugar?”

I beamed her an appreciative smile. “Thanks, black is fine.”

“You’re welcome.” She dropped onto the chair next to me. “Is Wrecker taking good care of you?”

“Mm-hmm.”

I focused on my food to cover the fact that my cheeks were filling with heat, but it didn’t work.

“That blush and the cut on your back are answer enough.” Gemma giggled. “I think it’s safe to assume he’s taking excellent care of you.”

“They all do.” Alice patted her twins’ heads. “And that’s how so many of us end up pregnant.”

My cheeks burned hotter—and not just because I nearly choked on the bite I’d just taken. The memory of Reid’s words from the night before bounced around in my mind. Luckily, Alice and Gemma didn’t push further, letting me finish breakfast instead.

After I was done, I tried to help clear a few plates before Alice shooed me away. I was still sipping my coffee when Blade walked into the kitchen, dressed in scrubs and looking like he hadn’t slept much.

“Coffee hot?” he asked, already making a beeline for the pot.

“Yup,” Gemma confirmed, nudging the half-full carafe toward him.

He poured a cup, then glanced my way with a tired nod. “Still doing okay?”

“Yeah,” I confirmed with a small smile.

He grunted what might’ve been a “you’re welcome” before leaning against the counter. His gaze flicked to Gemma and Alice before returning to me. “What’s Wrecker up to?”

“I’m not sure what exactly.” I shrugged. “Just that he’s handling some club business.”

Blade nodded. “It’s good that he’s keeping busy. This time of year is hard for him.”

My brows drew together. “Why?”

Blade sighed. “Anniversary’s coming up.”

I waited, giving him space to decide whether he’d tell me more. He didn’t.

It was Alice who spoke next, her voice gentler than before. “He’s visited her both years I’ve known him. I’m sure it’ll be the same now.”

“Her?” My fingers twisted together as a sharp flicker of jealousy caught me off guard.

“He earned the name Wrecker for more than one reason.” Blade crossed his arms over his chest. “We knew what he did during his time with Spec Ops in the military. He can turn a building into wreckage with precision unlike anyone else and also clear a path through it to save people nobody thought could be rescued.”

My chest tightened as I nodded, remembering the strength in Reid’s arms when he pulled me out. “I discovered that firsthand when he got to me faster than I thought possible.”

“He’s the best at what he does, but even Wrecker doesn’t have a perfect record.” Blade scrubbed his palm down his face. “Doesn’t like talking about it, but Fox didn’t give him a choice back when he was prospecting for us. Normally, he’s stoic as fuck, but there were a couple of days when he was a wreck. Prez dug it outta him, how shit went sideways and he didn’t get to a woman in time.”

I pressed trembling fingers to my mouth with a gasp.

“She made it out of the rubble alive,” he hurried to explain. “But all that time buried under concrete and steel left her legs beyond saving.”

“And Reid blames himself for it,” I whispered.

“Yup,” Blade confirmed with a sharp nod. “He carries the weight of that woman spendin’ her days in a wheelchair the same way he does the guys he knew over there who never made it back home. Even more, because he thinks if he’d just been a little faster, she’d have a normal life.”

The weight of those words sank deep. I finally understood why he didn’t like me thanking him for rescuing me. And the shadows that passed through his dark eyes. It was guilt he carried over memories of someone he hadn’t been able to fully save.

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