Page 40 of Point Proven
Grinning, I dipped my chin in a nod. “I’ll pack immediately.”
Oren’s eyes narrowed, a bit of life returning to his irises as they fell to my injured hand. Softening slightly, he rubbed the back of his neck. “I’ll… make us some breakfast and get you some ice.”
“Oren, I’m?—”
“Ice.”
Swallowing the rest of my reply, I flicked my attention back to Thorne. Clearing my throat, Itriedto focus on the taskand not my best friend seething beside me at seeing his fiancé without the cover of clothes. “How… How long do you think? I-I think Stefan has him c-chained.”
Thorne sat up, running a hand through his hair. “Considering the connections Levander has? Not long.” Unbothered, he flipped the sheets back, pushing his nude form off the bed as he snatched his phone from his nightstand. “I’m going to go have a cigarette while I chat with him.”
My eyes wandered, whether intentionally or unintentionally, I wasn’t sure. But as soon as I caught sight of the jewelry adorninghim,my lips parted. “Jesus! No wonder you won at Strip Uno. If you had shownthat,we all would’ve fucking fainted.”
“Out,” Oren snapped, stepping to block my view. Jutting two fingers into my chest, his nostrils flared. “Get out and get some goddamn ice before I shove it down your throat.”
Coughing to hide my laughter, I raised my hands as Thorne’s chuckles echoed in the background. “Yes, sir. Sure will.”
“Oh dear fucking lord, you’re not helping,” the small bundle of fire that was my best friend spat over his shoulder.
“He’s appreciating myassets; you should accept the compliment it entails, dove.”
“The only person who gets toappreciateyour assets is me. And if you want to push me, keep talking until I remind you exactly what I can do.”
“Someone’s jealous,” Thorne crooned, the sound of their glass door gliding open mixing with his words. “I’ll be out here.”
“Simon.”
Laughing, I nodded. “Okay, I’m going.”
As I turned to leave, fingers curled around my wrist. Oren raised the injured hand to inspect it. Smile dropping, he brushed his thumb over the wound. “You promised Liam you wouldn’t… You wouldn’t do this anymore.”
Swallowing, I yanked it from his grip. “It’s impossible not to when my world doesn’t have any sunshine.”
Not letting him reply, I slipped out of their room and down the stairs. While my hope was renewed, my soul wouldn’t be lightened until my sunshine was home.
He was everything, and without him, I wouldn’t withstand even the simplest of tasks.
But this was it. The first step toward putting a bullet through Stefan’s fucking head, and God, I couldn’t wait to bathe in his blood.
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
LIAM
My hands trembled as I ended the call, silence replacing the comfort that was Simon’s voice. Working quickly, I deleted the call from Stefan’s history before locking his phone and chucking it face down on the bed.
As if its landing served as a warning, the lock to the room clicked. Quickly, I curled onto my side and wrapped myself in the sheets to conceal my partially clothed body. With only my briefs left, I prayed I would be able to sufficiently pretend I was asleep to avoid further assault.
When I’d woken a couple of hours prior, Stefan had catered to every wound he’d left behind. Precise stitching sealed the wounds on my thigh, but the gauze I’d peeled off was impossible to secure again, something I’d excuse with a fitful rest. And my fucking finger?—
The door swung open, and I forced myself to level my breathing into a pattern that mirrored deep relaxation.
Harsh footfalls thudded in the space, a gruff chuckle seeping into my bones as the mattress creaked next to my face. Soft caresses greeted me, his fingertips exploring the expanse of my face.
Brushing over my brows with lingering touches, he advanced down, swiping across my cheek with possessiveness. He tugged on my lower lip, parting it gently as his thumb slid across my top teeth, his breath catching with the movement.
Slipping it from my mouth, he wiped the lingering wetness on my chin. “Mmm, wake up.”
I remained unmoving, praying that if I didn’t respond promptly, he would elect to leave me alone.
