roof collapsed and the pitiful cries ceased abruptly. Absinthe let out a wail, the sound like that of a wounded animal. Then, abruptly, he went silent. His brother got off of him slowly and reached down to help him up.
Absinthe didn’t take his hand. He didn’t look at any of the other boys. He stood in silence as he was directed by one of the men to go to the long building in the distance. He did so, stumbling like a zombie, his expression blank, looking like he was in shock. The three other boys followed behind him.
Next, Scarlet saw Alena bending over Absinthe while his brother and Savage held him, Steele examining him, Alena trying to coax him to eat. The scent of cinnamon and orange was heavy in the air. Clearly, Absinthe was willing himself to die, refusing to eat.
The bedroom door swung closed, the sound loud in the silence, startling Scarlet, bringing her back to the present. She turned around, pulling out of his mind, shocked and very happy to see Savage was back.
“Thank God. Something’s wrong with Absinthe. He’s having a flashback. He’s so far in his mind, he’s gone, Savage. I can’t reach him.” She couldn’t. Not through their connection. Not shouting his name. Not pinching him. She felt like the four helpless teens desperately trying to save him when Absinthe was starving himself, willing himself to die.
Savage’s ice-cold gaze jumped to Absinthe’s face and he let out a groan. “No. Damn it, Absinthe. Don’t fuckin’ do this.” He swung around and took two steps toward the door. Both heard the truck leaving the drive. Steele was gone.
“He clearly has done this before. How did you get him back?” Scarlet might feel desperate inside, but she was cool on the outside. She wasn’t going to lose her husband to his past. He had every right to suffer post-traumatic stress syndrome, but his demons weren’t going to swallow him whole.
“We had a club girl be his fucking little pussycat and suck his cock until he knew what was going on in real time. He wasn’t this far gone. I had to scare the crap out of her so he’d come back and protect her.”
“Then that’s what we’ll have to do. I’m his pet and you scare me.”
Savage studied her face for a long moment and then shook his head. “You aren’t the type that scares so easy, Scarlet. You took a knife away from a rapist and his friends. You fought them off with it. You went by yourself to a man whose reputation would put off most very scary men and you stayed with him a year in order to learn how to kill the men who raped your sister. You don’t scare easy, honey. You’re a fighter. You already know what I’d have to do and you’re prepared for it.”
Savage looked as if he might shake Absinthe—or her. He paced across the room. “This is bullshit. We fuckin’ set this up, the perfect storm. Steele. The fire. Alena. Her cookies. Me. You. What the hell were we thinking?”
“Tell me what I have to do to get him back.” Scarlet poured conviction into her voice. “You’re the scariest man I’ve ever seen. I have no doubt you’ll figure it out. Tell me what to do. What he needs. I can play any role. I’m good. I can get into his mind. We have a connection. We have to try. We have to do this.” She made it a demand. Savage had his back to her but she saw him stiffen. His shoulders went straight.
Savage took a deep breath and turned to face her. When he did, he looked different. The change was subtle, but the man that was raging with so much worry for his brother had been taken over by something that reminded her of the Grim Reaper. His eyes were flat and cold and carried death.
“You only think you know me, Scarlet. I’m not like the rest of them. You don’t want my demons in this room with only the two of us here. So you bring him back. Be his little pet. Make him think you can’t live without him, that if you don’t do what you’re told I’m going to end your life. That’s what’s going to make him come to you. Your fear. Your need. He has to feel his little kitten’s fear. Get your mouth on his cock and get busy.”
She turned her attention to Absinthe, stroking his thighs,