I swallow hard, blink the sting from my eyes, and keep perfectly still until his chair creaks again and he settles back down, silent except for the steady rhythm of his breathing.
I should be relieved. Instead, I’m terrified.
Chapter Nine
Shadow
Morning creeps in through the blinds, thin slats of light cutting across the room. I’ve barely slept thanks to the chair digging into my back all night, but that wasn’t what really kept me awake.It was her.
Every time she shifted under the blanket, I was on edge. Every small sound had me glancing over, checking she was still breathing, still here. Like some guard dog chained to the bed.Pathetic.
I drag a hand over my face and push to my feet, my joints stiff and crackling in protest. Remi’s curled small, drowning in my shirt, her bare legs caught in the sheets. A tangled mess of beauty.
I told Sasha that Remi is something to me.Christ.What the hell was I thinking, saying that out loud?
I move to the bathroom, splash water on my face, and stare myself down in the mirror. She’s trouble. A runner. A thief. She’s got secrets deeper than she lets on, and I’d be a fool to forget that.
And yet here I am, making sure she’s got dry clothes, a roof, food. Acting like she’s—I cut that thought off with a growl.She’s not.
When I step back into the room, her eyes are open. Wide, clear, like she’s been awake longer than she’s letting on.
“Morning,” I say, my voice rough.
She doesn’t answer right away. Just blinks slow then sits up, pulling the blanket higher around her like armour.
“You’re still here,” she mutters finally, like it’s a surprise.
“I said I would be.” I fold my arms, leaning against the dresser. “I keep my word.”
Something flickers in her eyes, disbelief maybe, then the wall slams back into place, that sharp little smirk curling her mouth.
“Well, don’t get used to it, Grumpzilla. I don’t need babysitting.”
There it is. Her defence. Her way of clawing back control.
“I got some clothes from Lexi for you,” I say, nodding at the bag Lexi sorted for her last night. “Choose something appropriate. Axel will want eyes on you when we go downstairs.”
“Yeah?” she asks, arching a brow. “Your President likes to look, does he?”
I roll my eyes. “He’s married. He ain’t looking at nothing but your soul, and you wanna rein in the bitch-attitude. He ain’t overly keen on you sticking around as it is.”
She throws the covers back, swinging her legs over the edge. “I told you, I don’t need taking care of, Shadow. I’m good by myself.”
Her words piss me off, and before I can stop myself, I’m in her face, my hands placed either side of her thighs as I pierce her eyes with my own. “Good by yourself?” I sneer. “I found you in the fucking mud, half-frozen to death in a barely-there dress you borrowed from someone else. You have no clothes, no coat, no decent fucking shoes. So, tell me, Remi, how are you good byyourself?” I take a breath and add, “And I told you to call me Logan.”
She’s biting down hard on the corner of her lip, her eyes breaking contact to stare down at the floor or anywhere but at me. “Move,” she almost whispers, and I hear the slight break of her voice. I push away, giving her space, and she immediately stands. “Thank you for last night,” she says, her voice empty of any emotion, “but I can take it from here.”
I squeeze my hands into tight fists to prevent from grabbing her as she heads for the door.
“I spoke to Roxy,” I blurt out, and she pauses with her back to me, her hand resting on the door handle. “She said she found you with her boyfriend.”
Remi spins round to face me. “I didn’t do anything wrong,” she snaps. “He woke me. He pinned me down.” Tears spring to her eyes, and she swipes a stray one angrily. “He touched me.” Her words break, and I can’t fight it any longer. I close the gap and pull her against me.
She fights it at first, her fists balled tight as she half-heartedly pushes against my chest. “It’s okay,” I soothe. “I believe you.”
“I don’t screw other people’s boyfriends,” she sniffles into my chest.
“Did he hurt you? Are you okay?”
