Page 40 of Warrior

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The photo is of Artemis.Her eyes are closed, and she’s on a couch.

Where is she?

You don’t recognize that couch?

Fuck, I do. It’smyold couch—one of the only things I brought into that cramped studio apartment. I paid a guy fifty bucks to help me get it in. It was heavy as fuck, since it had a trundle bed inside it.

How the hell…?

I don’t question it. I get in Tem’s car—the keys were just sitting there, asking to be used—and drive into South Falls. I park in front of the building and take the stairs, too impatient to wait for an elevator.

The doorknob turns easily under my hand, and I step in.

“Are you armed?” Gabriel asks.

He holds a gun to Tem’s head. A small revolver, easily concealable. He’s next to her on the couch, one arm thrown around her shoulders to keep her upright. Her head is back, though, her eyes closed.

“What did you do to her?”

Gabriel tsks. He motions for me to spin in a small circle, which I do.

“Lift up your shirt.”

I comply. I don’t have my gun—I didn’t think I would need it to confront Saint. Stupid, really, although it saves me from Gabriel strip searching me.

Which he might, yet.

He whistles. “Nice abdominal muscles, Mr. Avery. Bet the ladies love that.”

I glower at him.

He hops up, leaving Artemis in the center of the couch. Without him, her body tips sideways.

“Go on, catch her.”

I do. I take his place, but it isn’t enough. I haul her onto my lap sideways, angling her head to rest on my shoulder. I brush the hair from her face and check her over.

Gabriel drags a folding chair across the space. Most of the shit I had in here was just stuff I found on the side of the street withfreesigns attached. A circular table that required a bit of TLC to not wobble, two folding chairs, the couch.

Artemis doesn’t even stir at the scraping noise.

“What did you do to her?”

Gabriel tsks. He stops close enough to touch, turning the chair around and sitting backward on it. He rests his arms on the back.

“We have to have our chat.”

My grip on Artemis tightens.

He clocks it and makes a dismissive noise. “I didn’t do the same to her. You were special, Reese. So? Tell me? What do you remember after I drugged you?”

“I…” My voice falters. “I remember not being able to move. You were right, it did burn.”

I’ve done everything in my power to forget about… well, all of it.

His gaze sharpens. “Go on.”

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