Page 57 of Brutal Truths

“I hate to do this, but can we finish this later?” His fingers flex at his side like he’s holding himself back. “I need to call Silas before he blows a fucking gasket.”

“It’s fine.” I give him a tight smile. “I’m not going anywhere. Go do your fake bad guy shit.”

The growl that answers is low and rough, as he steps in, close enough that I feel it more than I hear it. His hand drags along my side, lingering just long enough to make it count.

“I’ll come find you when I’m done. It could be a while.” His gaze darts to the door and then returns to me. “I have to leave. Just for a few hours. I’ll be back before nightfall.”

The idea of him leaving doesn’t sit well, but I can’t keep him here. He has a job to do. One I’m not meant to be a part of.

“I’ll be fine.” I hope that’s not a lie. “Your brother and sister-in-law will make sure of that.”

“As will Lane and Pauly. I’m not leaving you unguarded. Teddy’s going with me.”

Aiden kneels beside my chair, his knuckle brushing along my cheek with a gentleness that doesn’t match the tension behind his eyes. “Bear will stay here. He’ll keep anyone who shouldn’t be here away from you and Alma.”

I nod, swallowing my words, because if I speak it’ll be a plea for him to stay.

The incessant buzzing of his phone diverts his attention before we are ready. He grunts, leans in long enough for a swift kiss, and then he’s gone, already moving toward the back of the house. The tight set of his shoulders is impossible to miss as he answers.

“Jesus Christ, stop calling me. I told you I was coming.” He doesn’t slow, keeps his pace as he drags a hand down his face. “If you ring one more time, that changes. Your threats don’t scare me. When I get to London, I’ll call. Until then, stay out of my way.”

The rest fades as he moves farther away, his voice dropping low enough that I can’t make it out, which is probably best. The less I hear, the less my mind has to misinterpret his words and worry.

I’ve met Silas. Got the impression he’s not someone you cross. I’m sure Trent is worse, and if I think too hard, the stress alone will weigh me down.

A loud bang—a door slamming—echoes through the house, and my body reacts before my mind can catch up. My head jerks up, eyes sweeping the room as my pulse picks up, ears straining for anything else out of place. A heavy, suffocating tension hangs in the air. Each breath I take feels like a struggle.

Was that Aiden leaving? Or did someone just come inside?

Fuck, I really hate this newfound awareness that’s taken hold of me since my abduction. Every loud, unexpected noise sets me off; my body reacting before my brain catches up. It leaves me on edge way too long after the sound is gone.

And nights are worse. I haven’t slept properly in days, just short bursts of restless sleep that leaves me more exhausted than when I started. My brain refuses to shut off, waiting for something to happen.

I keep waiting for Rurik to show up. Expecting him to materialize out of thin air the second I let my guard down. Each time I open my eyes, they go straight to the far corner of my room, to that armchair half-hidden in the shadows.

Last night, I swore he was there. Watching me.

It wasn’t him. Only the moon’s shadow on the huge tree outside, moving in the wind. The relief hit hard… but didn’t last.

I stand, the slight dizziness in my head forces me to slow for a second before I make my way to the sink to rinse my cup. The steady flow of water gives me something normal to focus on.

I hear heavy footsteps coming up fast, so I spin around and get all woozy and kinda queasy. My hands shoot out to brace myself on the counter.

Lane freezes mid-step, guilt written all over his face for sneaking up on me like that.

“Damn fly was buzzing my head.” The lie comes out fast, brittle, and not even close to believable.

He nods, though the look he gives me says he’s not buying it. “Do you want to talk about it?”

“No.” Shaking my head, I turn to the window. The ocean stretches out beyond it, waves crashing against the rocks in a steady rhythm I cling to; a constant, almost hypnotic sound. “I’m sure you have somewhere better to be. A job waiting on you?”

“I do, but my hours are flexible.” He crosses to the fridge and grabs a bottle of water.

“What is it you do?”

He twists the cap off and takes a swig. There’s a playfulness in his eyes that has my curiosity piqued.

“I rob people.”