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I managed to get a couple of hours of sleep on the other side of Rialta’s door, and I need coffee before I talk to her. Luckily, there’s a pot already made when I get to the kitchen.
“And ideally, you should be sleeping in a bed. I told you I’d protect Rialta—”
“Like you did before!” I snap at him. “You didn’t protect her from Beckett. He would have killed her, and you would have let him.”
Hayes has the decency to look guilty. “I wouldn’t have let it get that far. Neither would have Gage. And you know Beckett. He has history with Rialta. He wouldn’t have killed her. He knows Ri would have murdered him if he killed her sister, even to get her back.”
“It doesn’t matter. I don’t trust you anymore.” I turn toward the door.
“I don’t trust anyone,” I whisper as I stare at Rialta’s bedroom door. I can’t even trust the woman I love.
“I know, and I’m sorry. I had to choose between two of my best friends, and I was always going to end up hurting someone. I thought Rialta would tell Beckett how to get Ri back, and that would be the end of it. I didn’t think he’d have to hurt her. I don’t know what’s going on with Rialta, but I know that you love her for real. And now that I know that, I will protect her—just as I protect Ri and everyone else here,” Hayes says.
I shake my head. There is nothing he can say that will make me feel better.
“I owe you. I’ll make it up to you. And it starts with protecting her with my life.” Hayes puts his hand on the door. “I’ll make sure no one hurts her. Go sleep in a real bed. You let our doctor dress your wounds and give you some meds, but you’re never going to heal if you don’t rest.”
“No, I’ve rested long enough.” Three hours of sleep on the floor outside her room isn’t enough, but it’s all the time I’ll allow myself. I need answers. “Beckett isn’t the only one who wants to find Ri and her unborn baby. The longer this goes on, the more we risk getting her back unscathed. I may hate Beckett right now, but I’m still going to do everything I can to save his wife.”
Hayes sighs and nods. “Do what you must.”
I study him. He wants me to trust him again. And I do—he’s seen me through the worst, but I’m still fucking mad at him, and he knows that. He’ll do whatever it takes to restore our relationship.
I keep that in mind as I open the door a crack before it hits the dresser.
I grin. Rialta moved it back in front of the door.
“Rialta,” I whisper.
I wait.
I’m not sure she’s going to wake up, or if she does, move the dresser out of the way.
Just when I’m about to give up and force myself inside, I hear her moving the dresser. I step inside the still dark bedroom. The sun hasn’t risen yet, but it will soon enough. And Ri needs to be back before it does.
I reach for the lights and flick them on. I’m stunned to find her still in her black lace lingerie, looking like my goddamn dream woman. I won’t be able to think about anything other than fucking her until she tells me she’s mine.
“Not fair for you to stare at my body when I don’t get to look at yours,” she says, staring at the clothes I put on.
“Then maybe you should put something else on.”
She looks around the room. “What exactly was I supposed to put on? There aren’t any clothes in here.”
I groan. I’m an idiot. I can’t even remember to provide clothes for her.
I remove my shirt, achingly slow as the fabric brushes over the bandages covering my wounds on my back. Every movement hurts. Every touch against the bandages, no matter how soft, is agony.
She notices. “I’m fine. I don’t need—”
I hand her my shirt. “Put it on.”
She does. I’m surprised she complied so easily.
“Talk to me,” I try another command.
“I’m not a dog you can bark orders at and who’ll obey as long as you give me a treat.”
My insides warm. “There’s my sassy wife. I thought you were gone.”
