Page 28 of Carver

Slash and Trix shared the details with Hex as Carver tried to shake off the last of his anger. He didn’t even realize Slayer was staring at him until he looked up. The other man was watching him with an expression Carver didn’t like.

It was as if he knew Carver better than he knew himself. Like he understood why Carver was acting differently.

While Carver suspected the reasons as well, he couldn’t let himself think like that. Not now.Maybe not ever.

Thirteen

“My pretty little pet.Did you think you could escape me? I’ll never truly be gone. You’re all mine, and you always will be.”

The venomin her voice echoed in his head as he shot awake. It took him a moment to realize where he was. To notice the space had changed from where she’d kept him.

Even knowing that, he couldn’t shake her words.

Why was she still showing up? What had he ever done to deserve the things they’d done to him?

Sometimes when he was alone, he’d have dreams of a different life. One with loving parents, toys, and all the food he could eat. There was love in that world. So much love.

But he always woke up.

The dream was never real.

He realized then that it never would be. Even if the woman wasn’t there, she was still in his head. He didn’t want to keep hearing her voice. Didn’t want to try to fight the demons he felt lurking inside him.

Climbing from the bed, he looked around for something—anything—to help him.

Voices in the hall stopped him as he shuffled through the drawer of the dresser. He paused to listen. His body went ice-cold as he recognized a woman’s soft words speaking to someone.

Panic edged through him at hearing her.

No, it wasn’t her. Not the woman he’d known.

But he felt the same amount of terror. He worried this new woman, whoever she was, would see him as a pet too. Would she convince the big man named Carver to do the same? Even men who were considered the boss fell at women’s feet. If they offered certain things, then there was no hope.

His hands ran over his neck as panic tried to take hold. The movement sparked an idea.

Fourteen

Carver’s phonerang right as he took another bite of the sandwich one of the old ladies had made him. She’d been passing by his open office door a few minutes earlier and his stomach growled loud enough to hear. When she asked to help, he agreed a sandwich would be plenty.

He regretted eating at all when he heard the panic in Hex’s voice. “Need you now!”

Dropping everything, Carver left his office at a sprint. People jumped out of his way with shouts and questions. He ignored it all, not wanting to stop until he got to the boy. Hex never panicked. He kept his cool even in the worst situations. For him to be upset meant shit was bad. Real bad.

At the entrance to the room, Fury stood waiting for him. Slayer was also at the door, his large form blocking anyone from getting in.

“Move,” Carver barked.

Rather than shifting to the side, Slayer looked to Fury.What the fuck? Did he not hear the direct order he’d been given?

“Carver.” At Fury’s hesitant tone, his head whipped over. “Before you go in, I need you to understand this isn’t Hex’s fault.He went in as soon as he heard what was going on. Doc is in there checking him over.”

“Checking him over?”

“Yes,” Fury answered.

“Why did he need checking? And why the fuck am I still out here? Let. Me. In.”

Fury reached a hand out to press against Carver’s chest. He hadn’t even realized he’d stepped forward, as if to intimidate the man.