He looks at me, and it’s obvious he wants an answer. An honest one. “No, butterfly. You weren’t.”
He sucks in a breath like he’s been punched. He nods slowly and takes a shaky step backward. “This is all too much. I need… I just need a minute. Fuck.”
It goes against everything to let him walk away from me, but I do.Only because he’s not leaving the cabin. He’s just stepping into the other room, closing the door softly behind him.
I clench my fists as I stare at the wood separating us. I don’t understand why Ansel’s freaking out. I’ve managed to get whoever was bothering him to back off temporarily. Once I find out who they are, I’ll make sure they do it permanently.
And, yes, I lied, but he kidnapped me.
I think that makes us even.
When he doesn’t show any signs of coming out, I go to the bathroom and splash water on my face.
There’s a tapping sound. Confused, I look at the window.
And see Matthias staring back at me.
My heart jumps into my throat and then I roll my eyes in annoyance. “What the fuck are you doing here?”
Matthias frowns, clearly able to hear me through the thin and warped glass. “Saving your ass. Come on.”
“No.” I make a shooing motion. “I don’t need saving. Now fuck off. Go away.”
Matthias’s mouth drops open. “You’ve been kidnapped, Cade. Come on. We need to get you out of here.”
“I told you, I’m fine. Go. Now. You’re going to ruin everything!”
His nostrils flare. “You might be an asshole, but you’re our asshole. We’re not leaving without you.”
We… We… Oh fuck.
Matthias gestures impatiently. “Quickly, while they have Ansel detained.”
Panic grips my throat in a chokehold. I move, sprinting through the cabin. But I’m not heading for the door.
I’m going to Ansel.
I burst into the other room and my heart stops dead in my chest. Ansel is on his knees, trembling. One of his eyes is bruised and swollen, blood dripping from his nose. He’s swaying, like he’s struggling to stay conscious.
And my brother, Samson, is holding a gun to his head.
Harley spots me first and squeals, covering his eyes. “Ew. Why the fuck are you naked?”
Dalton reaches over and slaps him upside the head. “I doubt he was allowed to wear clothes, you fucking asshole.”
I don’t respond. I don’t look at any of them. I just stare at Ansel. At the tears tracking down his cheeks. “Samson, take that gun away from his head before I put a fucking bullet in you,” I seethe.
Samson frowns, exchanging a confused look with Wylder. “What the fuck? This guy kidnapped you. He deserves to die. We only left him alive this long in case you wanted to be the one to do it.”
He jerks his hand slightly, and Ansel whimpers. That’s when I realize Samson is holding him by his hair. I step closer, murder in my eyes. “I swear to fucking god, Samson. Let him go, now.”
He looks at Wylder, who nods. Samson pulls away and puts the gun in the holster under his jacket.
Ansel sways on his knees once more, and I swoop in to catch him before he hits the floor. “It’s okay, butterfly. I’ve got you. You’re safe.”
All around me, my brothers are whispering and shuffling. I situate Ansel on my lap before glaring up at them. “Which one of you fuckers hit him?”
No one speaks, but I see Dalton wince. I narrow my eyes at him and mark it on my mental list. He’ll pay for this.
