Of course, he came.
“You’re late,” I rasp.
Because apparently near-death experiences haven’t improved my personality.
The corner of his mouth shifts faintly.
Barely there.
“I wanted to make sure you missed me.”
God.
Even now.
A laugh almost escapes me.
Gunfire erupts somewhere deeper in the compound before it can.
Reality slams back into place instantly.
Russ moves toward me fast, dropping to one knee in front of the chair while pulling a knife from his vest.
“Can you stand?”
“Yes.”
Lie.
He doesn’t even react to it anymore.
The rope around my wrists snaps loose in one quick cut.
Blood rushes painfully back into my hands immediately.
I suck in a sharp breath.
“Easy,” he mutters automatically.
“I’m fine—”
“Stop saying that.”
That almost gets an actual smile out of me.
Almost.
Russ grips my forearms carefully and pulls me to my feet.
The second I stand, agony slices through my side hard enough my knees buckle.
His hands tighten instantly around me before I can fall.
“Whoa.”
“I’m okay.”
“Sure you are.”
