Range sat up and fumbled for his ruck. Morning sun filtering through the slots of the net, he grabbed the sling from his medkit. Shifted and sat in front of her. Slipped it under her forearm. As soon as he drew the ends toward the back of her neck, she stilled. Lowered her gaze, and Range felt this weird tremoring in his veins. She lifted her hair, so he could Velcro it.
Ignoring the awareness, the silkiness of her hair, he grunted. “Stabilizing it will help it heal and avoid tearing it. When we get to your friend’s place, I should look at it again, see if it needs stitches.” He adjusted the sling so it didn’t pinch her neck. “There. I think …”
Her eyes came to his, and even with the dimness of the cave, Range could see those gold flecks. Felt her breath hitch.
Realized that in another life where she wasn’t actually a madam, this might be where he thought about how pretty she was. What those sultry eyes seemed to offer—a kiss.
Heck no.
He laid back. Stretched out.
“Ask her …”Coman’s words haunted the cave.“It is not my story to tell … Ask her.”
Range cleared his throat. Shifted, palming the Sig again. Told his brain to shut up and go to sleep. Kasra had been right—he hadn’t slept in two days. Had to be why he’d totally missed the signals that something was off at the airstrip. He’d been so focused on passing her onto the others. Getting that name.
Lying there, he heard a noise … glanced to the side and saw her shivering. Hard. Stealthily so he didn’t disturb her, he shifted the gear to the other side of her, then angled a little closer. Her shivering slowed.
He rolled his head to the side. Wondered how she could live with herself, selling people … It was obvious why she’d ended up in this business … with those full lips and oval face. Dark lashes that dusted her cheeks. Her hair lay askew, a dark complement to her olive complexion. She seemed … familiar. As if he’d seen her before.
His gut clenched, realizing how much she looked like Dani…
Range rolled his gaze to the ceiling and exhaled. God forgive him, but nobody would compare to her. It’s why he left home. Left the family. Never forgave Canyon.
* * *
Grunts and pain pulled her from a deep sleep.
A master at waking stealthily so as not to disturb whoever lay in her bed, Kasra pried herself from Slumber’s torment and found herself staring at the strong, handsome face of Rag?—Range.
He had told her his name. Let her peek into the soul of the man who had been trapped in this nightmare with her. The way he had gotten them away from the police, delivered them to safety, tended her injury. Not once had he sneered at her, though she sensed he blamed her for this mess.
As he probably should. Taweel had powerful connections but even more, the German did. And the captain … his pockets were full of their money and investments in his career. If they wanted her found, they would find her. She had aroused the beast, and by it, she would be slain.
At least Range had not been shot last night.
He grunted again. Twitched. His face contorted.
Instinct had Kasra place her hand on his arm. Felt the constriction of his bicep when she did. But he still dreamt, grunted. Muttered. She moved her hand to his chest. Sculpted. Firm. Heart thundering.
What tormented him?
“Shh,” she whispered, telling herself not to focus on the firmness of the muscles beneath her fingers. The way his chest rose and fell.
He was a good man.
She could not recall the last good man she had known. Coman was close, but he was more a brother than …
Range’s hand slapped onto hers.
Sucking in a breath, she lifted her head. Opened her mouth to apologize.
But he did not throw off her touch or hurt her. He simply … held it, sort of. And his pulse slowed.
Unlike hers. Pounding like a drum. As it had when he’d put the sling on her. He had been so close, his moves practiced and experienced as he helped her. His eyes so blue and pretty. He had felt it, too, she was sure. He’d hesitated.
Don’t be a fool. He despises you.
Her wound pinched at holding it in this position for so long, but she feared to move and wake him. Honestly, she did not want to move. She appreciated the warmth of his hand and chest. Appreciated that it had calmed him in his sleep.
