Page 127 of Blood in the Water

“What the fuck?” I snapped in disgust. This guywasa dick. “What the hell is wrong with you?”

He held up his hands in a surrender gesture. “Just asking.”

“You have something to say?” Defensive anger rolled through my veins.

“Nope.” He shook his head. “Forget I said it.”

“What the fuck does that mean?” I growled.

He rubbed his chin and looked away. “She just seems… experienced. I was just curious.”

My fists clenched at my sides. How the hell would he even know that? What the fuck was going on between her and all of them?

My thoughts went into overdrive.

Was I going to have to protect her virtue as well as her life?

But no—whatever she did with her body now was her choice. We’d left the mafia behind that demanded she remain a virgin until marriage.

But we were staying in a home with four other guys. It couldn’t be thatnoneof them were attracted to her. She was fucking gorgeous and strong and determined. What was therenotto love?

Shit. Did I havecompetition?

What did Leona think about all this?

All those insecure thoughts I’d had for most of my life camewhooshingback despite what she’d said to me the last time we spoke. What if I wasn’t good enough for her? What if she’d decided to move on while I’d been passed out? What if she didn’t want me anymore?

Ryuji spoke like he’d been together with her. Or one of them had.Had they?How far out of the fucking loop was I?

“Whoa, there,” Ryuji said, hands in the air like he was calming a crazed beast. “Steam is practically coming out of your ears. No need to get your panties in a bunch.”

The elevator dinged before I could respond.

The doors opened to a laughing Leona, hair up in one of the high ponytails that always made me want to suck on her neck. She was dressed in tight-fitting workout clothes—those werenew,had they bought her clothes?—chatting with a smiling Wynn as they stepped out of the elevator covered in sweat.

“Cas!” she exclaimed, eyes bright. But then she saw whatever expression I was wearing, and her face dropped. She looked between me and Ryuji, her eyes narrowing at him. “Everything alright here?”

He plastered a fake smile across his face. “Absolutely perfect. We were eating some breakfast.”

“It’s 2 pm, Ryuji.” She walked over to me and stood on her tiptoes to kiss my cheek. The confused tension in my chest eased a little. “How are you feeling, Cas?”

“Better,” I said as I snaked my arm around her waist and nuzzled her neck. I was probably being fucking ridiculous, but I couldn’t stop myself from the claiming gesture.

She laughed as her arms came around my neck and squeezed me back. “I’m so glad to see you awake. You’ve been in and out of it for days.”

“The last thing I remember is our conversation from the night you rescued me.” Our conversation, my confession, and the kiss. Where I’d declared my undying loyalty to her. Things hadn’t changed since then, had they?

“That’s alright. Seems like you might be over the worst of it now. But you still need rest. Willow said six to eight weeks.” She poked her finger in my chest when I scoffed. “I mean it. Rest. I won’t lose you again.”

“Fine. I’ll take it easy.”

With Leona, things were never easy. She had always come before me, and that wasn’t about to change because I had a few broken bones.

Once she was convinced I’d do as she said, she let go and yanked the fridge open. “I’m hungry.”

Wynn came to stand behind her, resting his arm around her shoulder and looking into the fridge. “Obi made some pasta last night when he got home.”

“Mmm,” she said as she grabbed the leftover container. “I haven’t seen him for a day or two.”