Page 150 of Captive Audience

“That hideous, huh?”

His gaze snapped back to mine, fierce and unyielding. “You’re not any less beautiful. Don’t ever think that. You hear me?”

I wasn’t sure I’d be as convinced once I looked in a mirror. Tears stung my eyes. I gave him a weak smile, then dropped it when my cheeks burned.

Rook traced his thumb over my knuckles, and something about the action felt odd. When I glanced at my fingers, I realized what it was.

In a panic, I asked, “Where’s my ring?”

“It had to come off for surgery.”

“When can I have it back?”

Rook swallowed with difficulty. “I’ll keep it safe for now.”

I’d grown used to the emerald’s weight on my finger, and strangely, I missed it.

Or maybe I just craved what it represented. Rook and me. Our unorthodox relationship. Despite everything we’d faced, we were alive and reunited.

“Can you give it to me? I want to wear it.”

“Forget about the bloody ring, Asha, and think about what you did,” he ground out, his tone vibrating with barely restrained fury. “You took a bullet for me. Why would you do that?”

I blinked at him. “Because I prefer for you not to die.”

His nostrils flared, and his eyes blazed with everything he must’ve wanted to say while I’d been unconscious. “I’m not the one who needs saving, Asha. You are. Always you before me. Do you understand? If you’d died—” His voice cracked. He shook his head and pulled his hands back. “Don’t ever do that again.”

“I won’t promise that.” I sighed at Rook’s frown and added, “It was instinct, okay? I saw the gun and acted. We’re both alive, so I have no regrets.”

“Stubborn woman.”

“Insufferable man.”

For a second, it almost felt like we were back to normal. Almost.

Memories of my captivity and rescue flooded back to me. I had so many questions. One felt more urgent than the rest.

“Daisy and Beth. Please tell me they’re okay.”

“They’re fine. They were drugged also and taken from the bar to divide our resources while the men were kidnapping you. But we were able to track the vehicle they left in and recover them quickly. They woke up feeling shite but don’t remember much of what happened. They stayed with Orla until we were certain they were safe, but they’ve gone home now.”

Relief crashed through me so hard it made my eyes sting. I’d pictured them lying in some filthy room like I had, or worse. Knowing they were safe loosened something in my chest I hadn’t realized had been clenched tight.

“How much do they know?” I asked.

“I had to explain who I was and my association with the Beasts, and that you were kidnapped by Baranov because of me.”

“No.” I licked my dry lips. “I mean, what did you tell them about us?”

He shrugged. “I stuck with the story you gave them about me needing a green card.”

“That’s all?”

He didn’t tell them he was in love with me? That I was in love with him? Even when he’d thought I might die?

The door eased open, and a nurse slipped inside.

“Glad to see you’re awake,” she said with a warm smile, and collected the clipboard from the end of my bed. “I’m Kate. Let’s check how you’re doing.”