Page 99 of The Hunted
“I promised your father I would watch over you three.” Jack crossed bulky arms over his chest. “Up until now, I had no reason to come to your rescue.”
Where Ray was muscled but lanky, Jack was wide and burly. There was no mistaking the two were brothers. The Aberdeen men were gingers in different shades of red.
Tripp and I were about twenty feet from the Aberdeens when Rianne ran up to us.
Tripp muttered a swear word, and I held back a laugh. He’d had a rough time pacifying Rianne when she’d found that Layla hadn’t been in her bed in the women’s barracks.
At first, I thought Rianne would say something to Tripp, but instead she threw her arms around me. “Thank you.”
I stiffened. “For what?” The woman hated me.
She playfully swatted at my arm. “Oh, don’t be coy. You saved my life.”
Jack’s face was deepening to red as he watched Rianne.
“You know your uncle is not happy,” I said.
She waved off Jack. “I couldn’t give two shits. If it weren’t for you, I wouldn’t be alive.”
“Does that mean you like vampires now?” I teased.
Tripp left Rianne and me to join Jack and his clan.
She rolled her brown eyes. “I wouldn’t go that far.”
I stole a glance at Layla, who was watching us intently. I was curious why she hadn’t come over, when Ray asked, “Is there something going on between them?” The fire spitting from his gaze was epic.
Tripp opened the door into the main building. “Ray, Jack, shall we?”
Jordyn helped to usher her uncles into the building. “Sam saved Rianne’s life. She’s only thanking him.”
Satisfied for the moment, Jack and Ray went inside, followed by Jordyn and Tripp.
As I strutted up to Layla, I opened a telepathic connection. I mainly wanted to confirm that I was still able to communicate with her that way. I’d almost fallen off the roof when her voice entered my head. I would still bet my life that she had some sort of vampire DNA or supernatural blood running through her veins. But that theory and the questions I had about how Layla and I had such a strong metaphysical connection weren’t about to be answered anytime soon.
Hey, baby doll.
Her blue eyes widened at me as Rianne and I approached.
“I’m going to catch up to Jordyn,” Rianne said before she hurried inside.
“I don’t know how I can hear your voice in my head,” she said.
I sized her up, taking in my fill of her curvy, gorgeous body. “It’s a mystery to me, too.” But I planned on talking to my father or even Dr. Vieira about that. “Are you staying or going home with your uncles?”Please stay.
She craned her neck up at me, giving me a sad smile. “If I don’t, I’m afraid my uncles will make things difficult for all of us.”
I kind of knew that would be her answer, but hearing her say it felt like she’d carved out my heart. Whoa! Maybe Jo and Abbey were right. Maybe I was falling for Layla. I didn’t have the right to tell her what to do, but I sure as hell wasn’t about to keep my mouth shut. “Your uncles don’t own you, and we can handle them.” Tripp and Webb would have my ass on a silver platter if they heard me now.
Layla slid her hands up my chest, giving me a sexy smile. “I know you can, but it’s more than that. We have no house, no car, and little money. And my sisters and I need to chill for a while. The best place for us to do that is at my uncle’s ranch.”
I was tempted to kiss her, but then I wouldn’t stop, and in a nanosecond I would have her naked.
I wrapped her in my arms, and my heart fluttered. “I don’t want you to leave.” Then I pressed my forehead to hers. “Stay?”
“Sam.” My name from her lips sounded like a desperate plea. “I need to get my head clear.” She lifted up on her toes and pecked me on the lips. “A lot has happened, and I don’t know what’s up or down anymore.”
Man, I wasn’t a beggar. Never had been and never would be. But in the heat of the moment, I was tempted. “You’re mine, Layla. That wasn't a line to get you into bed.” She needed to know I was serious. Deep down in the recesses of my soul, I knew she was the one for me.
