Chapter 37 #2
“Thank you,” Harper said, though her voice was weak. Róisín’s jaw clenched.
“I do not accept your gratitude. This is a simple investment. Unlike that moronic Alpha, I know better than to needlessly anger a greater fiend.” She glanced at Evie. Then straightened her spine. “But, for what it’s worth… you’re welcome.”
She walked away before Harper could respond. She aimed straight for the exit, the people standing near it all but jumping out of the way and letting her walk into the storm unhindered.
“What was that about?” Evie asked.
“I have no idea.” Harper grabbed the blanket and tossed it to Evie. “Here. You’re cold.”
Evie looked ready to protest, but with how much she was shaking, her defiance died quickly. Instead of arguing, she pulled the blanket around herself.
She was dressed as poorly for the weather as Harper, in just a t-shirt and sweatpants, but she didn’t have a mattress shielding her from the cold floor. Her teeth were chattering hard enough that Harper could hear it, even from several feet away.
Her breath kept hitching. As though she was close to panicking and kept yanking herself back from the edge. And every time she looked at Harper, at her neck, she got closer to failing at it.
“I asked her,” Harper whispered once the silence got tense. “To bite me, I mean. She didn’t want to do it at first, because she was afraid of hurting me. But I knew she wouldn’t. She’s never hurt me, not once. Since the very first time we met, all she’s ever done is make sure I felt safe.”
Harper hugged her knees. “I didn’t trust it at first. I kept looking for ways to break it, because it didn’t make sense that someone like her would waste their time on someone as messed up as me.
But I couldn’t ruin it. She didn’t let me.
And every time I started thinking it was too good to be true, I just had to look into her eyes and then everything felt right.
So I asked her. I trusted her. And I don’t regret it one bit. ”
Evie didn’t speak. Her breath had evened out, surprise filling her eyes.
No. Not surprise. Understanding. As though she recognized every word. As though she’d stumbled through all those frightening feelings enough times that they had turned from strange to familiar.
“You love her.”
Tears welled up in Harper’s eyes. She didn’t bother fighting them, just the thought that produced them.
The fear that she’d only gotten to tell Maya once. And she might never get to do so again.
“We have to wait out the storm,” Kieran said, bringing the present back into focus.
“Everyone keeps their heads down, and then we’ll leave in the morning.
Find somewhere else to regroup and then rebuild.
We don’t need that Winter bitch.” He put a hand on Booker’s shoulder.
“You did well tonight. Proved yourself. I won’t forget that. ”
Booker actually beamed. Kieran looked back into the warehouse, anger flaring in his eyes.
“That isn’t yours,” he snarled, rushing up to Evie and tearing the blanket away. “You’re fucking tainted. The favored plaything of that Chains whore isn’t touching anything of mine.”
He shoved her, knocking Evie onto the floor. She stiffened as her hands touched the cold concrete.
“Don’t you dare!” Harper leaned as close as her restraints allowed. “Don’t fucking touch her. If you do, I swear to God, I’ll bite your cock off first chance I get.”
Kieran’s eyes snapped to hers, fury making them glint yellow.
Harper didn’t cower. She just glared at him. Maybe being scared and compliant would be the wiser play, but the option of being either was lost right then. The only feeling she could muster up now was hatred.
The anger faded from Kieran’s expression. He looked from Harper to Evie, then back again. A sick smile appeared on his face.
“Book. You’re in charge for the next few hours,” he called to the entrance. “I need some rest. Unless it’s an emergency, I don’t want to be disturbed.”
Kieran produced a set of keys from his pocket, unlocking Harper’s ankle chain and handcuffs. He grabbed her arm and pulled her to her feet.
“Get off me, you bastard!” She scratched at his fingers. Kieran yanked her close.
“Listen to me carefully. You don’t fight. You don’t run. You fucking behave.”
“Or what?”
“Or you’ll regret it. Because if I see even a hint of attitude, you won’t pay the price. She will.” He touched his handgun, gesturing at Evie. “Am I clear?”
Harper stiffened. Evie did too, only to immediately shake her head.
“Don’t, Harper. Don’t do what he says.”
Harper stared at him. At his grinning, satisfied expression. As though he’d been struggling with a hard riddle and had finally been given the solution.
Hand still on her arm, he led her towards the back of the warehouse. A door led into an adjoining building—the interior similar to the cabin she’d just left behind.
Harper didn’t speak. Didn’t struggle. She just followed along as Evie shouting her name lowered in volume and then vanished when the door slammed behind them.
She balled her hands into fists. It would be fine. Maya was on her way. She would have pushed through the injury and called the Chains for backup. Any minute, she would roll into this place—wherever the hell it was—with an army in tow and get them the hell out of there.
She would come. She would. The alternative was too devastating to consider.