That long? I wonder again if Cal’s okay. If the others are. If they know where I am or if they’re even searching for me?
Fuck that, of course they are.
The way Lynx looked at me when Birch dragged me away... you can’t fake that. A pang of longing hits me so hard, my breath catches. I want him. I fuckingneedhim, and the fact he’s not herehurts.
“How long till he’s done?” Fox asks, and I try and snap out of it, try to pay attention because this sounds important, but the ache in my chest is like nothing I’ve felt before.
Hollow.
That’s what it feels like.
This big empty space that I can’t fill.
“Soon,” is all Birch says.
Are they still talking about me, or did I zone out?
“What a fucking mess.” Fox starts to pace, pulling his phone out and messaging fuck knows who.
No one speaks.
Another wave of pain rolls through me and I slump forward, the sight of Fox walking back and forth making me feel ill all over again.
“Hey,” the guy from the van whispers. I glance up to see him watching me. He’s got dark, curly hair and light grey eyes, but it’s his soft smile that catches my attention. It’s warm, friendlyin a way I really fucking need right now. “It’ll be over soon. The pain,” he clarifies with another small smile. “I don’t know about the rest of this shit, but you’re almost through the worst of the change.”
“And then what?” I think of Nico. How he had no one to help him, to guide him. I overheard enough to know that it didn’t go the way it should’ve done. “I don’t know what to do?” I whisper, but the snorts from the FBs holding me up remind me that there’s no fucking privacy here.
“I’ll help you,” mystery guy says. “If I’m still with you.”
I send up a silent prayer that he is.
The thought of being alone with this is fucking awful.
“I’m Luke, by the way.”
“Morgan.”
I want to ask why he’s here, where he’s come from, but before I can, Fox marches over, phone in hand.
“Change of plan.” He glares at Birch. “We’re taking them both for the next ring match.”
Wait, what?
Luke curses softly next to me, and the FBs holding us seem suddenly uncomfortable.
“No,” Birch snaps, and it’s like everyone holds their breath, me included. I get the impression Fox isn’t someone used to having that word directed at him. “I bit him, he’smine.”
“Fuck off,” I snap, but they both ignore me.
“I’m sorry, I don’t think I heard you correctly.” Fox shoves his phone in his pocket and crosses his arms so his considerable muscles bulge.
“Didn’t think I fucking stuttered.”
My gaze swings to Birch again. He stands straighter, probably at least two inches taller than Fox, and makes a point of glaring down at him.
Fox smiles, and it’s so cold and predatory I want to take a step back, but I have nowhere to go. “We have an agreement, Birch.” He tsks and shakes his head. “Do I have to remind you what’ll happen if you go back on it?”
“No.” Birch snarls, eyes narrowing to almost slits as he looks at Fox like he wants to carve him into tiny pieces.
