Page 88 of Heist in Paradise

He nodded tersely.

I stepped forward and dragged my hands over him, starting at his face, his jaw, down his neck, and across his shoulders. He jolted suddenly, a hiss escaping his lips. There was wetness on my fingers, and when I withdrew them, they were dripping with blood.

“Jesus, fuck, Madoc.”

“I’ll live.”

The hole in my chest widened, threatening to swallow the rest of me. My hands clutched at him, no longer searching but just holding on. “Put pressure on it, you dumb fuck.”

Madoc rolled his eyes. He searched my face, mouth pinching. “Sentimental idiot.”

My cheeks warmed.

Knowing what I needed but couldn’t ask for, Madoc tipped forward. His forehead knocked into mine, our cheeks brushing, and his warm breath tickled my chin. We didn’t embrace often, or ever, really. Tactile as the rest of them were, Madoc wasn’t a fan of physical touch. He put up with me

Sentimental idiot was right.

“Nate,” I exhaled into his temple. “He fucked up.”

Madoc stiffened and pulled back, and I already regretted opening my mouth. His eyes were hard and laser-bright. “What’d he do now?”

I swallowed bitterly and told him everything. I expected his anger, but Madoc surprised me by becoming weirdly distant, like he was reflecting on something.

“What is it?” I asked.

His lip quirked up on one side. “Funny.”

I gaped at him. “You hit your head as well?”

“Molly.”

“What?”

“She shot me.”

I reeled at that. “The fuck?”

“Your little girlfriend saved my life,” Madoc said, giving a half shrug and then wincing when it jostled his shoulder. “Apparently, some of us are redeemable.”

“Not him,” I said, unwilling to let go of my anger, my last thread of sanity. “I can’t forgive that shit. He could’ve got us killed.”

“He has one functioning brain cell. He thought he was saving us.”

I frowned at him, waiting for the punchline. “Since when are you the forgiving type?”

He gave me a flat look in return. “I’m not in the mood for your sulking.”

“I don’t sulk.” My voice sounded sulky, and I coughed harshly to clear it.

“You’ll forgive him eventually.”

“Not fucking likely.” I shoved him in outrage, remembering too late his injury. “Shit. Sorry.”

Groaning at myself, I reached into my pocket and pulled out my cigarettes. It barely touched my mouth before Madoc stole it. We shared it between us, silent and bleeding. I tracked the beach with foggy eyes and found my target. For a moment, nothing else mattered but her.

I didn’t like how she made me feel, or the fact that she made me feel anything at all. Jesus, I’d known her less than a fucking day. I’ve had one-night stands that have lasted longer. It definitely wasn’t long enough to justify the sheer possessiveness that roared in my chest. I wanted to grab her and shake her and trap her and keep her.

The little priss was never allowed to leave my sight again.