London’s frown deepens. “Well, I think it’s Jack. I know you have a complicated relationship, so he is the most obvious choice, but you should’ve seen the look on his face when Katia came to get me.”
“I’m looking into him, too.”
London sucks in a harsh breath and leans in closer. “It’s too dangerous. What if he finds out?”
“I’ll take care of it.”
I’ve gotten myself out of worse messes, and although I don’t relish the idea of confronting Jack, I know I have to cover all of my bases.
“I want to help,” London says. Her eyes flick over the scar on my cheek. “There’s got to be something I can do.”
“If I tell you to stay out of trouble, will you listen?”
London pauses. “Not if I feel like there’s something I can do.”
I grimace. “I’m going to regret this, but I need to know what Noah told his father and his brother. I’ve been in the dark for too long, and if I’m going to come out ahead of this, I need to have the full picture.”
London stares. “You want me to talk to him?”
“You’re not going to like what you see,” I warn, my stomach lurching. “Just remember that I’m keeping us safe, and Noah has threatened that.”
London nods and says nothing.
When I pull her against me again, she doesn’t resist.
For a while, we lay there, her head pressed against my chest, and my arm draped over her shoulders, the smell of her washing over me.
It is a rare moment of peace before the storm.
Eventually, London’s breathing evens out, and she goes slack against me. Using my good arm, I pull the blanket over us. Then, I sink further against the bed and squeeze my eyes shut. Unfortunately, the harder I try to sleep, the more elusive it becomes. When I finally drift off, my body feels heavy, and everything is tight. I keep replaying the car crash in my mind, seeing Katia and Carlisle’s faces as they fought to protect me, and the steady stream of people pouring in from the forest.
Only in my dreams, I couldn’t stay on my feet.
Rain poured, and endless darkness spread around me.
When I raised a gun to shoot, it was replaced with a knife, and it went sailing through the air before I realized I had thrown it at Oliver. I scrambled to my feet as his body crumpled. My heart pounded as I ran over to him, and his face was replaced with Mathew’s, his bright eyes wide and accusing. I propped his head up and ignored the tremor racing through me when the face changed again. This time, I was holding London.
Her expression changes as she stares up at me, the life slowly bleeding out of her.
I open my mouth to scream, but no sound comes out.
Suddenly, I sit up in bed, drenched in a cold sweat, and my heart galloping unevenly. Gray light pours in through the open window, and I hear birds chirping in the distance. My vision clears, and I see London sitting next to me, wisps of hair plastered to her forehead and a furrow between her brows.
Wordlessly, she takes my hands in hers.
“I’m okay.” My voice is hoarse. “Just a stupid dream.”
London kisses my hand and swings her legs over the side of the bed. “Why don’t I get you something to eat?”
“Katia should be outside, or Carlisle. Make sure one of them is with you.”
London turns to face me. “Okay.”
I raise an eyebrow. “That’s it? No arguments?”
London lets her hands fall to her side and straightens up. “Let’s just focus on getting you better. That’s all that matters now.”
I tug on her hand, and she leans forward, breath hitching in her throat when I move my other hand around the back of her neck. My mouth descends on hers, hot and unyielding, and the sigh that falls from her lips makes something in me unfurl. London slides onto the bed and links her fingers through my hair. When she angles her head and parts her lips, red-hot desire pulses through me.
