Page 175 of After the Burn

Wren blinked. “The cage?”

He smirked. “You brought me an enhanced woman Gideon claims destroyed his town. Did you think she was going to be shown to my bedroom?”

My stomach twisted at the thought.

Wren shrugged. “I don’t care either way, but she probably won’t give you a five-star review.”

Curtis grabbed my arm, and I instinctively pulled away. He tightened his grip until it was painful. It seemed my new friend was enhanced.

Every second that passed, our odds were becoming less favorable.

Another man approached from the garage. Big. Shaved head. A huge scar bisected his top lip.

Immediately, I could tell he was enhanced as well.

“Do you need help?” the bald man asked, licking his lips.

“No,” Curtis growled. “She’s just one enhanced woman, and crazy Wren brought her in. I think I’ll be fine.”

The bald man smiled but grabbed my other arm anyway. “Just because you saw her first doesn’t mean you’ve got dibs.”

“Fuck off, Jonah.” Curtis sneered, but I noticed the small flicker of fear in his eyes. “I never said I wanted her.”

I could’ve fought, and maybe with my training I could’ve taken one of them. But two enhanced men were beyond me. This was a battle I’d win by wits alone.

So, I let them walk me toward the maintenance garage.

Wren followed, but Caesar stopped her. “You stay.”

“Why?” Wren squinted at him in question.

“Because I said so,” he spoke in a taunting tone.

Her face went blank, and I was scared for a moment that she would lose it. Wren had been surprisingly resourceful up to this point, but she was genuinely mentally ill and beyond stubborn.

I let out an internal breath of relief when she just shrugged. “Okay.”

I kept walking, annoyed with myself for doubting her. I needed to trust her and my men.

Adrian knew me well enough to understand how hard it was for me to give up control to anyone. It was even harder on this side of the fence, but if they could set their differences aside to love and protect me together, I had to give a little, too.

The garage smelled of oil and gas fumes, and with my enhanced senses, it was stronger than I’d like.

A floor-to-ceiling steel cage occupied one corner. Expanded metal was welded to a heavy frame, with concrete beneath. A thick industrial door with a small, barred window completed the scene.

Well, it looked like someone had planned for difficult guests.

Curtis unlocked the door. “Inside.”

I stepped in, and Jonah removed my cuffs.

It felt good to have my hands free.

Out of nowhere, Jonah shoved me hard enough that I hit the cage wall, and I reacted before I could stop myself. My elbow caught him across the mouth, and blood sprayed.

He stumbled backward, even as Curtis swore.

Jonah stood at his full height and slowly touched his split lip, then smiled. “Do it again.”