Page 25 of Dismantle & Prevail

And to no surprise of my own, she stayed, despite my warnings. I want to be mad at her for risking her life, but I can’t.

She is the reason I am sitting on this hard hospital bed, with Doc poking and prodding at me.

She is the reason that I didn’t let myself fade away because what ifs ran through my mind on constant repeat.

What if he made good on his promise? What if he captured her? What if he brought her to me and granted her the same fate as he did me?

What if all of my worst fears came true, and I had let myself wither away into the darkness? She may be the strongest person I know, but no one can survive the gilded cage alone.

Boone’s voice interrupts my racing mind.

“Ari? You okay, brother?”

My eyes narrow and I force a smile on my face. “Never better, VP.”

The pinch of a needle in my arm followed by a chill racing through me causes my mask to slip and Boone crosses his arms over his t-shirt covered chest.

“Stop with the theatrics, Aries. You have been missing for two months. You look like shit and there is no telling what kind of infection you contracted in that—”

“Boone. Enough son,” Doc says, cutting him off.

Doc’s tattooed covered hand swipes his silver hair from his eyes as he secures an IV to my arm. “What hurts Ari? I’m going to get a few scans, but it would be easier if you pointed me in the right direction.”

Sighing, I momentarily lock eyes with Taylor, who is leaning against the wall across the room. “Everywhere.”

As the words leave my mouth, her mouth ticks downward and she looks up to the ceiling.

“I’m going to give you a medicine to help with the pain and one that will sedate you so I can get your wrists cleaned up without you killing me.”

My gaze doesn’t leave Taylor, who is still staring at the ceiling, as I say, “No. I’ve been sleeping for two months. Keep me awake. I’ll be fine.”

As if she can feel my eyes on her, her head tilts down, her green eyes meeting mine. Her brows furrow in confusion and I see that her mask, hiding any form of vulnerability, is gone.

“Aries, brother. Listen to Doc,” Boone says, from his place behind Doc.

“No. That’s final.”

Taylor’s shoulders rise and fall. Her nose scrunches and her cheeks heat. A dead giveaway that my hellhound is upset.

I can’t help the small smile that pulls on my face. Taylor may be great at concealing her emotions to the rest of the world, but she can’t fool me.

My ribs scream in pain as I adjust myself higher on the bed and Taylor’s facade breaks. “Come on, Ace. Just take the damn meds.”

There she is.

I prefer this version of Taylor. The one I conjured up while locked in a cage, as his promises playing in my head, scared me to death. It made me want to obliterate anything and anyone who dared to put that look on her face.

This version is one who isn’t afraid to challenge authority. Not that she would let me have an ounce of superiority on her, anyway. And I fucking love it.

Lifting my arm that is resting on my stomach, I motion for Taylor. “Come here, Hellhound.”

She pauses for a moment and pushes off the wall, coming to my side. Pain screams in my wrists as I reach out and grab hers, threading my tattered fingers through hers.

“Thank you. You did good today.”

A stunned expression flashes momentarily over her face before she conceals it. She tries to release my hand, but I don’t let her.

“No need to thank me. You would have done the same.”