Page 6 of Unexpected Complication

“Are we clear?”

He glanced at me. “Yes.”

I exhaled deeply. “How is he?”

He grinned as he sliced the sandwiches in half. “He said to tell you there was no need to squeeze his leg so hard. He’s gonna return the favor. He also thought the second bullet was a little dramatic.”

I chuckled. “I felt like being dramatic. Orson likes a good show—I have no doubt Rex gave him a great play-by-play.”

He looked up at me. “You’re fucking lucky he was able to stay still that long and not blow it.”

“I got Rex out fast both times. He was fine.”

“Says you, who was free to take regular breaths in and out and not have to play dead while the guy who supposedly shot you is arguing with some girl.”

I chuckled. “He’s safe?”

“He is. I delivered him to the agreed spot.” Sean plated the sandwiches and added them to a tray. “How’s our guest?”

I snickered. “Feisty.”

He leaned back. “Why, Cian? We’re so close.”

I ran a hand over my face. “I couldn’t leave her there, Sean. She saw too much. It was too risky.”

“You could have told me to take care of her. I would have arranged it with the boss. She’d be safer there.”

I grabbed a sandwich, bit, and chewed. How could I explain the urge I had when I saw her in front of me, shaking and trying so hard not to show her fear? The hopeless look in her eyes when she asked me to kill her fast made my chest ache. I didn’t want her hurt; I wanted her safe. I needed to be the one who made her safe. I needed to keep her close.

“She could blow everything we’ve worked for,” he pointed out.

“No. She won’t. I’ll take care of her.”

“I hope you know what you’re doing.” He indicated the tray. “You want me to take that to her?”

“No. I will. Her room is wired, right?”

“Yep. I scanned the whole place. We’re clean from any outside sources. I made sure the feed in her room was working, and I patched it to your laptop.” He stretched. “I’m gonna go have a shower. I’m too old for this shit, man. Harper looks wiry, but he weighs a ton. My back is killing me.”

I clapped my hand on his shoulder. “Last one. For all of us.”

Our eyes locked.

“I know. We’ll get him, Cian.”

I nodded. We would.

I pulled out my gun, balancing the tray as I unlocked the door. Skylar needed to see I was still dangerous, and the gun was a reminder of that.

Skylar was back in the chair, looking cleaner but even more terrified than before—her eyes focused on the gun, like I knew she would. Her hair was loose, long, damp waves down her back. I set the tray down in front of her with a smile. “You look better.”

She sniffed. “Well, great. I’m so happy my smell isn’t bothering you anymore. I’d hate to think of you as uncomfortable.”

There was the feistiness I liked.

“Sorry the clothes aren’t a better fit. I’ll have Sean pick you up something more your size tomorrow.”

“Oh, I’ll still be alive then?”