to show that I wasn’t budging. “The bacteria has infected his bloodstream. He’s getting worse, and I need specific equipment as soon as possible.”
T-Bone sighed, casting an apologetic glance to the couple in his bed. “Well, we’re not all leaving, then. You shouldn’t be alone here.”
“Grudge can stay,” I said. “And Larkan. Reaper will want one of our own with me. But you and Dyno need to get Kyrie back and tell my guys what I need. Then at least one of you needs to come back here with my stuff as soon as possible.”
“All right.” He nodded, running a hand over his shaved head. “All right, we’ll just, uh, finish getting dressed. Make me that list.”
“On it.”
I went back to my—or was it Shadow’s?—room to find him thrashing around in bed, with Grudge struggling to restrain him. The silent man looked up at me with confusion etched in his eyes, but thankfully this wasn’t a violent nightmare. Now that I knew the cause of his illness, the symptoms of disorientation and confusion weren’t too alarming.
“Shadow, it’s Mari.” I pushed back the dark hair over his face and placed my hands on his cheeks. “You’re safe, love. You’re going to be okay.”
“Mari?” His eyes were barely open, just slits, while his head moved around as though in search of me.
“Yes, I’m right here.” I stroked his cheekbones with my thumbs and pressed a kiss to his clammy forehead. “I’m always here.”
He stopped struggling, sinking limply into the mattress. I nodded at Grudge to let him know it was okay, and he climbed off the bed.
“Mari…” Shadow’s hands stretched out in search of me. I held one in mine and let his other hand rest in my lap. “Why…why are you always here?”
“Because I’m taking care of you, silly.” And you’re mine.
“No, I mean…” he twisted in the bed as if trying to get comfortable. “Why are you always here?” His chin lifted, his feverish gaze pointed toward the ceiling. “In my head? I can’t…I can’t get you out. You’re always there.”
My heart drumming wildly, I brought his hand to my lips and kissed the lines of scars over his fingers and knuckles. This beautiful, battered man had been hurt so much and never encountered love a day in his life. Even just the slightest glimpses of it, he didn’t know what to do with.
But I would show him. I’d give him what he didn’t even know he hungered for, and never make him want for it again.
“Probably the same reasons why I can’t get you out of mine,” I answered.
Twenty-Three
REAPER
“Hey.” Jandro smacked me with his bag of chicken feed. “Gun’s coming back.”
I sat up so abruptly, the cigarette nearly fell out of my mouth. Looking toward the hill where Governor Vance’s house sat, I saw Gunner barreling down the narrow street on his bike, hair streaming out behind him. Jandro and I went out to the front porch of the B&B to greet him, both as eager as kids on Christmas for any news.
My heart sank at the sight of Gunner’s grim expression when he pulled up.
“What happened?” I demanded.
“Don’t know. They’re still about two miles out.” He climbed off of the bike and released a heavy breath. “It’s just two riders—T-Bone and Dyno. With a blond girl I assume to be Vance’s daughter.”
“What?!”
Jandro and I rushed at him at the same time. I couldn’t speak for my VP, but my blood was already simmering. We fired questions rapidly.
“That’s it? Are you absolutely sure it was just them?”
“You didn’t see Mari at all? Or Shadow? Maybe he was riding further back?”
“Hey, back the fuck up!” Gunner shoved both of us out of his face. “I’m just the messenger, all right? I know what I saw, and I did not miss shit. It’s just those three and no one else.”
“They better have a good fucking explanation,” Jandro glowered.
“Well, they’ll be here in a minute and then we’ll find out.”
“There is no explanation,” I seethed. “There is no fucking excuse to leave our woman—and two of our men—behind on a fucking rescue mission in some fucking slave labor territory—”
“Reap, calm down.”
“Fuck you!”
I wanted blood. I didn’t care if the Sons had a direct hand in leaving Mari and my guys behind, or they had to make a tough choice in rescuing the girl, none of it. All my people being left behind was the worst possible scenario I could imagine. Oh fuck, what if they had to trade hostages? I’d happily watch