Page 28 of Warrior

“I am careful,” I snap. “Why are you lurking outside the bathroom?”

“To see how you’re healing.” His gaze drops. First to my breasts, thankfully concealed in a sports bra, and then lower. His attention trips over my arm. “Is that from the IV?”

“I guess.” Goosebumps rise along my arms. My heart nearly trips over itself, the lie making mesweat. I don’t normally lie, but I’m not about to admit the truth, am I? That Gabriel pumped heroin into my body, and now?—

“Should you be showering with…?”

“It’s fine. I got the all clear.” I inch past him. “Now, if you’ll excuse me.”

“I—”

“We know you’re just going to run back to Starlight. Why bother with me?”

His mouth opens and closes. And then, softly, “I saw Kade.”

“You saw Kade,” I repeat. I pull at the collar of my shirt. “Where? Why?”

“He…” Saint’s furrowed brow seems to getmorefurrowed. “He came to the shop.”

His tattoo shop. I glare at him, because there’s clearly more.

“He wanted a tattoo.”

I laugh. It bursts out of me, and I slap my hand over my mouth. Just down the hall, in the open common space, Reese sleeps.

“Elaborate,” I finally say.

“He asked for a tattoo.”

“And you… refused him?” I finish. “Because he put me in this position? Because he gave me to Gabriel, and you havesomeounce of loyalty in you?”

His blue eyes hold an apology I cannot comprehend.

No—no, Icancomprehend it, but I definitely don’t accept it. His silent admission isn’t going to fly.

“Tell me.”

He reaches for me and falls short. “I gave him a tattoo.”

There it is.

“A real one,” I clarify.

His expression shutters, but he nods.

That hurts worse, actually. That he wouldn’t tattoome, but he would give one to Kade? The man who betrayed me…

When will someone pickme?

Tears burn the backs of my eyes. I stomp into my room and grab the syringe from under the pillow. It’s back in my pocket, along with the elastic tourniquet and a stupid fucking alcohol swab. I shrug on my leather jacket and lace my boots, tug the towel from my head and finger comb my hair into something acceptable.

When I burst back into the hall, Saint still stands there.

“Where are you going?” He follows me to the door.

I retrieve my gun from the safe, then glance back at him. Where am I going? I honestly want to be anywhere but here. He pickedKade. Over me? Over everything that happened?

I blink furiously, willing those tears to get sucked back into my body instead of falling down my cheeks. And I mostly succeed, except an errant one that I dash away with my fingers.

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