Page 13 of Deranged (Killers Inc. #3)

Since Field’s episode last night, Shadow hadn’t stopped pacing the hall each time Field slept.

He knew this pattern. Field desperately needed out of this life, but Shadow had never seen a path to freedom for him.

He had to stay awake at least one more night.

He could sleep during the day. When that first telltale shout rent the air, Shadow was almost relieved.

He had known there was no avoiding another break. The waiting had been killing him.

Shadow didn’t hesitate to burst into the room.

He didn’t know why, but he had forgotten about Henry.

Not that it mattered. The scene was the same.

Field fought to tear apart the ghosts inside his mind.

Just as all the giants in their family had once done, Henry had him locked in his arms from behind, stopping him from tearing down the room or hurting anyone, especially himself.

The shouts didn’t make sense. They were just animalistic rage. A fury-filled frenzy.

Henry spoke too quietly for Shadow to hear over the screams. He couldn’t imagine Field heard a word of it either.

Henry wasn’t getting through. Field was trapped.

Henry didn’t give up. He looked patient as hell, but Shadow knew he didn’t understand.

This approach wouldn’t work once it hit this point.

“I’ll call Zeus.”

The murderous look that turned his way nearly made Shadow take a step back. “I’ve got this.”

Shadow understood Henry’s position, but he didn’t know Field the way Shadow did.

He hadn’t been around that long. Desperation had Shadow trying to explain.

Zeus had to come. “You don’t understand.

Field is a full graduate. He’s one hundred percent still programmed.

Zeus is a master de-programmer. You can’t fix this.

This isn’t some night terror. He’s basically stuck with his buttons set to kill everyone. He needs Zeus.”

“Stay the fuck out of it, Shadow. I’ve got this.

” Henry’s roared words might have cowed Shadow if Shadow was a lesser man.

But Henry didn’t truly know how much deadlier Shadow was than him.

He would do what was best. Shadow pushed his way through the crowd he hadn’t realized had gathered behind him.

He ran to the bedroom and grabbed his phone.

In seconds, his text was sent to Zeus. He spotted Clay on his way back to check on Field.

“Hey. I called in help again. Can you escort him inside?”

With a sharp nod, Clay was down the steps.

Shadow twisted his phone between his hands and shifted from foot to foot.

With the screams echoing from the walls, it felt like it took forever for Zeus to arrive.

When the huge blond came into view, Shadow nearly dropped to the floor in relief.

His hair was disheveled and there was no shirt beneath his leather jacket.

He looked exactly like Shadow had pulled him from the arms of another man.

Shadow leaned against the wall for support.

He didn’t watch Zeus as he disappeared inside Field’s bedroom.

People scattered at Zeus’ arrival. Shadow couldn’t see or hear a thing.

Had there been a hickey on Zeus’ chest? Probably.

It wasn’t like Shadow didn’t know anything about Zeus’ lifestyle.

He was this huge, sexy force of nature that looked as if he had been sent straight from the gods.

His name fit him as the god he was. Zeus was a living, breathing aphrodisiac, and he knew it.

He knew every eye was always on him. Zeus never doubted he could have anyone.

God. Shadow swore he could smell him. Just candy and lust. Heartbreak.

The way the screams were suddenly muffled pulled Shadow from his downhill spiral. Zeus was there and Shadow was frozen. They were inches apart, and that smell paralyzed him. The fact that the shouting hadn’t stopped but was merely less due to the door being shut, finally cut through the spell.

“What’s going on?”

Zeus looked unbothered by the fact that Field obviously hadn’t snapped out of it yet. His light gray eyes were like a predator’s as they stared down at Shadow. “He’s in good hands. Let his man handle this.”

Frustration had him ready to punch someone. “Are you joking? You’re just going to leave him like this?”

Zeus took his hand and squeezed it. “Don’t worry about my fee, okay?

He has a good man. It’s time to let him handle Field.

That’s what’s best for Field. If he has any shot at a normal life, his man needs to be able to deal with these situations.

It’s not right for me to interfere. Finding happiness will do way more for him than I ever can.

If my presence endangers that, then I need to go.

” His gaze slid down Shadow’s body. “Unless you need me to stay, beautiful.”

Shadow’s gaze dropped to the hickey on Zeus’ chest. The rock in his stomach got heavier.

The lump in his throat grew. A seed of hatred took root.

Without looking away from that awful mark and allowing himself to weaken, Shadow pulled his hand away.

“I don’t need anyone.” Without looking back, he headed for the safety of his bedroom.

The sound of the door snapping closed between them nearly broke his mind.

It didn’t matter if he had always known the score.

Shadow’s heart was too fragile. He had lost Field.

Field had found love and didn’t need him anymore.

Seeing Zeus’s games tonight was too much. He might do anything.

The bedroom door opened and six foot six of blond god in biker boots stormed the room. In a flash, Shadow found himself on his knees with his wrists above his head.

“Tell me again you don’t need me.” His hard voice had Shadow panting for breath. Shadow’s body knew that tone. It betrayed him in every way.

“I don’t need you.” The quiver in his voice called him a liar.

“I’ll see you out.”

The hard voice cutting through the air had the first tear falling.

As much as he didn’t want to look, his chin still lifted as Zeus walked away.

Ridge stood in the open doorway. He looked at Shadow with the same hatred Shadow had shown Zeus.

Reality tightened its grip. There was nothing left for him here.

Rain was married. Field was likely headed that way.

That left nothing but the choking pain of things he couldn’t change.

It was time for him to go. He wasn’t scared of dying by leaving the protection of the family.

Shadow was terrified of another day of this.

Some things were worse than death. Being here on his knees was one.

Henry’s muscles screamed. He had never fought so much unhinged strength.

Hell would freeze before he gave up and let go.

He had known going in that Field dealt with this.

Henry had asked Field to marry him knowing he permanently tied himself to this part too.

This was real love. That meant even the ugly bits.

“Please come back to me, baby.” He kissed Field’s nape.

A war cry tore from Field. He threw himself forward and then used every ounce of his power to toss his head back, head-butting Henry in the face.

Henry heard and felt his nose break. It was a familiar feeling.

Blood gushed down his face as pain exploded through him, but he still didn’t loosen his grip.

“Fuck, Field. Stop. You’re breaking my heart here. Not just my nose. You’re fucking killing me with this bullshit. Please come back to me.”

Field went limp.

Henry thought he had fainted until he felt the shaking. He gently turned Field, ready to lock him down again if this was a ruse. Tears flowed down Field’s face. He looked terrified. His gaze locked on Henry’s face and the pain and fear Henry saw nearly took him to his knees.

“You’re bleeding.” His voice sounded like his throat had been torn to shreds. “Oh, my God. What did I do? Why are you bleeding?”

Henry helped Field back to bed and then grabbed a shirt from the floor. He tried to stem the flow. “It’s okay, baby. Don’t worry about me. I’m okay.”

Field covered his face with both hands. The despair was a third person in the room. “What else did I do?”

The muffled words were heartbreaking. “Nothing. Everything is fine. We made it through. The nose is my fault. Everything is fine.”

Field dropped his hands. “It’s not fine. I hurt you. Why do you want this? Don’t answer that. I can’t hear you say that you don’t. But it’s okay if you’re done now. I get it.”

“Stop trying to run away from me at every turn. I’m genuinely okay. I knew this was part of loving you and I do love you.”

Field practically leapt from the bed and dragged him toward the bathroom. “Please, let me clean this up. Let me try to fix it.”

Henry let Field fuss over him, hoping the chore busied his mind. He knew it wasn’t working as he watched the tears continue to flow. Field didn’t meet his gaze as he gently washed away the blood. He kept swiping at his cheeks and eyes, but the tears kept coming. Henry couldn’t look away.

“Tell me how I can help. I’m not Zeus and I’ll be goddamned if you ever get hurt again. Tell me what else I can do.”

Field shook his head. “Are you okay with me setting this nose, or do you want me to get Austen?”

He wanted to growl. “You can do it. This is nothing.”

Pain exploded through Henry. Field just did it, not giving Henry time to think about it. Henry refused to show any reaction and make Field feel worse. The moment he was as clean as he would get, Henry hauled Field into his arms. The way he shook broke Henry’s heart.

“You don’t deserve to be stuck with this.” Field’s whispered words made Henry want to punch someone.

“Stuck with what? The man I love, and adore, and practically worship the ground he walks on? I know I don’t deserve to have that, but I’ll be damned if I let you get away.”