He stares at me in disbelief.
“This is why I didn’t want to tell you,” I say as I turn back to the bag.
“No,” he says. “No,I’msorry. I’m not looking at you like that because I feel bad, Anastacia.” I bring my gaze back to him. “I’m looking at you like this because I am in awe of your strength.”
I huff a humorless laugh. “I’m not strong.”
“You are the strongest person I’ve ever met. I can only imagine what they did to you, and here you are. You’re living, you’re functioning, you’re having a baby. That is… admirable.”
I keep my gaze locked onto his, my heart beating a little faster.
“I guess I don’t see it like that.”
He steps closer to me, cupping my cheeks. “Then I will keep telling you until you do.”
How does this man say all the right things?
I have the strongest urge to lean up and kiss him—to learn what his lips feel like. But no amount of tip-toe will get me to where he is. I start to laugh, and a slow smile forms on his face.
“What?” he asks.
“Nothing.” I shake my head as his hands fall from me. I go back to the bag to find something to wear after the shower before I do something inappropriate.
“Well, to answer your question: no. We don’t deal with trafficked women, ever. Surprising since we’re near the border, but that’s why we protect it. So shit like this doesn’t happen.”
“Why was I different? Why did Kolton—uh, Snapper take me?”
There’s silence for a few moments, as I dig through my clothes.
“Well, for one, we will always help someone in need. Just because it’s not our thing doesn’t mean we don’t do the right thing. But also…” He pauses, thinking over his words. “Kolton is lost, and he’s looking for something to help him find his way.”
“And I was that?”
He shakes his head absently. “I don’t know. He’s very private, and very snappy. Like a turtle.”
I laugh as I pull out a pair of sweats and a T-shirt and turn to Grizz. “So we have a bear and a turtle. What else does the HMMC have?”
He laughs. “Oh, you’re going to love this.”
“Am I?” I ask as I move toward the bathroom.
“Snapper’s brother is Shark. And there’s also Rhino and Coyote.”
“Does everyone in the club have an animal name?” I ask.
“Nope. Then you have Bullseye, Ghost, Tank, and Spam.”
“Like the meat?”
“Yep.”
I walk into the bathroom and turn to face him. “That’s a story for later. See you after my shower?”
“I’ll be waiting.” I swear there’s a hint of something in his tone, but maybe I’m hearing things.
When I’m finished in the bathroom, he’s waiting for me just like he said he would be.
Chapter Thirteen
