Page 48 of Hide From Me

“She only hit me because she got startled. She was into me.” His head tilts back confidently and my lips part while my eyes narrow in utter shock. You know what. I’m not even going to say shit because what the actual hell. I mean I get it, but not from his standpoint—more of the standpoint of, if Raylen were to punch me that hard I’d probably be head over heels in love with her right now.

For fucks sakes am I really fantasizing about her beating the shit out of me? Yes. Yes I am. Maybe I can ask her to give me a good slap when I see her.

“You know, that’s a dangerous way to think. It’ll wind you up six feet under saying things like that in this base.” I mutter, taking a detour towards Sam and Jasmine's room.

“What? You think she wasn’t asking for it?”

Without thinking, his back is slammed against Sam’s door and my fist is in the air again, but before I can act, the barrier is flinging open and Sam is aiming a pistol at the back of Dale’s head—his face flushed and breathing heavy with a blanket wrapped around his waist.

“Jesus fuck, what—“ Sam starts, and my jaw clenches as my fist flexes into Dale’s shirt. My focus flicks to Jasmine flushed to the headboard with a sheet pulled tight to her chest breathing heavy with panicked eyes.

I swear I have the worst possible fucking timing.

Breathing heavy, I clear my throat and start tugging Dale behind me again as I call out, “I brought you a gift.”

I hate to do it to Jasmine and steal her husband for a bit, but if he or Cas doesn’t take this man from me soon, I’ll end up committing an unnecessary murder. That’ll be an ass ton of paperwork that I can’t do tonight.

“Was that a sore spot? Oh, come on, runt you can tell me. Did I hurt your feelings?” Dale taunts and accidentally slips through my grip to tumble down the flight of stairs to the cellars. There’s a few grunts and groans as he lies face down on the floor, but I ignore them as I pick him back up and toss him into the interrogation room.

“Damn it. You got blood on my shoe.” I mutter as I lift my foot slightly to examine it and he rolls to his back on the floor to sit up properly.

“Why are you here?”

“The fuck you doing here?”

The words echo down the stairs in unison, so I smile and look to Dale as I squat in the doorway so he can be at eye level.

“I swear if I find out that broken nose was for anything more than a ‘startled’ swing, I’ll come back to finish what they started,” I mutter quietly, and Dale's brows furrow in confusion, but his laugh echoes anyway.

I stand, brushing my hands down my shirt with a grin as Sam and Caspian angrily stomp in my direction. Come on ass hole. Give them a reason…

“Does the little mutt only get scraps?”

The words are hardly out of Dale's mouth before my big brother plows past my body to get to him.

“Who the fuck do you think you’re talking to?” Caspian snaps, and Sam stops beside me as he finally realizes who’s in our custody.

“Fuckin hell, this is gonna be a good night.” He mutters under his breath, and the sound of Caspian's knuckles connecting with Dale's jaw echoes in the room.

“Bill only asked if you could get any information about what his motives have been or if you could pull any more information,” I say steadily, despite my body thrumming to join.

“Anyway, you two can kiss and make up now.” I huff as I turn on my heel and wave my hand. I’m heated in every possible way. All I want is to get to Raylen, but I don’t even know if I should right now. Dale’s words ring too loud in my ears, mimicking the sounds of his cries that follow me up the steps.

I can’t keep her waiting, either, though.

Eleven

Raylen

12-20-2025

My Stupid House

I lean over my kitchen counter, scrubbing the surface as if it has personally offended me. No matter how many times I wipe it down, it never feels clean enough. Nothing is clean—my house, my clothes, my mind, not after tonight.

Where the hell is Moe?

I grab my phone, checking for a call, a message, anything. But the screen stares back at me, blank and silent. Typical. The one time I want him—need him—around, and he’s nowhere to be found.