Page 49

“I couldn’t understand why my brother wanted to own a person so…fragile. Now I know that’s just appearances.”

“You were testing me?” I feel strangely pleased and deeply pissed. I was manhandled, kidnapped, and tied to a very uncomfortable chair by a crazy ex, and instead of helping me, Ezra just decided to see how the situation would develop.

“You’re a fucking psychopath,” I mutter, reminding myself what that entails. “Give me your phone.”

Of course, he doesn’t oblige. “I already contacted Uri. He should be here soon.”

I frown at him. “How do I know you’re telling the truth?”

“You don’t.” He shrugs.

My foot suddenly slips as I take a step back. Ezra instantly appears a couple of inches from me and grabs my arm, holding me up. The gun’s muzzle is against his chest now, but he doesn’t seem disturbed by it. Instead he smirks.

“You are as clumsy as a baby with no motor skills.”

“I just escaped from a kidnapping!” I retort with irritation.

“Who hasn’t in this…family?” It reminds me he was once imprisoned as well, just like the rest of us—much longer than us.

He lets me go to reach his hand inside the pocket of his dark green hoodie.

“Slowly!” I order him, pushing the gun against his body more firmly.

He does as I say—still smirking like a lunatic—and pulls out a box of…Band-Aids. “You know I can take that weapon out of your hand in less than a second,” he deadpans, opening the box.

Can he? He’s an assassin for hire, so he probably can. I hesitantly lower the pistol, still keeping it in my hand.

“How did you know I wasn’t Uriel?” he asks as he removes the backing papers from the Band-Aid’s adhesive side.

I look into his eyes again, and I don’t see any kind of murderous intention in them, only emptiness. It makes me shudder.

“You have a whole different aura. And Uri would never wear these clothes.” I look at the red bandana around his forehead half covered by the hoodie with a snake on the sleeve and his beige cargo pants.

Distracted by my survey, I let him place the red Band-Aid with a black heart carefully drawn on it over my cheek.

I’ve been jealous of him since Uri told us about his existence.

I hated the fact that he kept Ezra as a secret, or the idea of Uri having another special person in his life, a brother bonded to him by blood.

But I understand now how petty of me that was.

“Why are you helping me?” I ask suddenly. Psychopaths don’t do anything unless there’s something to gain from it.

“Why Uriel?” He answers with another question not pertinent to what happened in the slightest. “Of all the other foster brothers, why him?”

I stare at his face. That’s a peculiar question. Is he testing me again?

Movement from behind Ezra makes me suddenly freeze. Then I do a double take when I see him. All my fear and anger drain away at the mere sight of him.

He’s alive. Uri. Uri. Uri. Dear God, he’s here and so beautiful, the rising sun is dancing along his figure as he stalks through the woods toward us, like flames shimmering all round him.

The dry blood on his forehead and in his hair trailing down his beige sweater makes me gasp with dread, but his steps are steady and forceful.

He’s alive.

“Uri!” I sob. Relief crashes into me, making me shudder. I want to run to him, but my arms and legs don’t seem to work. Our eyes lock, then he lets his trail down my body. I feel like I’m being touched all over by his gaze.

I know the answer to Ezra’s question. Not loving Uri would have been impossible. He is me, as I am him. Seven plus Four equals one.

I can see his face more clearly now. His features are twisted in fury and what I think is…fear. For me. He’s come for me. My teeth are chattering now. I’m probably in shock or dealing with an adrenaline crash. I feel shaky and cold and a little out of it.

“I thought you were… Trent said he…” I can’t even finish a single phrase. I feel the gun slipping through my fingers as my body abruptly lets go.

His strong, soothing scent envelopes me first, then his warmth, making my toes curl.

He moves until we collide. My face is against his chest as heburies his nose in my hair.

It’s not a dream. Ibreathe in, my senses going into overdrive.

I’m swallowing huge gulps of his scent, pushing them deep down inside my lungs, never wanting to let anything about him go.

It’s olfactory bliss. A moan leaves my lips when strong, unforgiving arms wrap around me and squeeze me tightly.

Uri, Uri, Uri.Whatever we were arguing about before loses all meaning.

“Baby Blue.” The sheer relief in those two words sends a shiver through me.

“Shh,” Uri whispers into my ear, stroking my back soothingly. Possessively. “I’m here.”

I nearly purr, leaning into his touch. But then with a strangled growl, he suddenly drops to his knees. His face sinks into my chest. His armspulls me in close, the hold shy of painful. In this position, I see more clearly the blood covering his head and dreads, and I can’t hold back a sob.

He is safe. He is alive.

“I’m ok,” I whisper, as he groans menacingly against my pec. He nods his head against me and holds me for…I have no idea how long.

Reality soon comes rushing back in when I hear a tsk, and I remember Ezra’s presence behind us. I try to turn to look at him, but Uri only holds me tighter.

His head tilts back, and our eyes lock again like two universes crashing and blending into one. My whole life has led up to this moment.

“I love you. I’ve always loved you so much, forever,” I brokenly whisper.

He just stares. My gut burns with adoration for him.

“Don’t scare me like you did today ever again. I’ll leave this earth and follow you into the afterlife if I have to.” The hissed promise penetrates my heart, finding its eternal place.

I squeeze my eyes, emotion heavy in my throat.

I can’t stop smiling as I bring our mouths together.

As soon as our lips touch, the desperation lifts off my shoulders.

His tongue teases inside my mouth and twines with mine as he straightens up, towering over me, gathering me so close that not an inch of space is left between us.

He kisses me until I can’t breathe, my lungs turn hot. All the pain and fear a faraway memory.

He finally tears his mouth away and pushes his head back, leaving my lips deliciously throbbing.

His fingers brush against the Band-Aid on my cheek. “It’s just a graze,” I try to reassure him, although it doesn’t seem to work.

“What else?” he asks with a grim look in his eyes.

“Nothing else,” I sort of lie. My boyfriend is bellicose as it is; I don’t want to fuel him.

“You have a bruise on your jaw and blood caked on your forehead.” He stops and growls. “Your tracker didn’t work. We couldn’t find you.” He turns my head to the side to inspect the area behind my ear.

Shit! Thank God Ezra followed me.

I choose my words carefully, not wanting Uri to turn berserk. “My head hit a wall and a car window, but the tracker should be fine.”

He roars, “Motherfucker!”

“Uri.” I grab his face with both hands, using my most soothing tone. But I’m angry too as I see the blood on his dreads. “How about your?—?”

Uri interrupts me by hauling me into another kiss, rough and passionate, claiming me with his mouth.

When he pulls back, my bruised lips burn in the cold air, and my head falls to the side against his hand.

I can only huddle into him. Because everything about him is perfect, from his caramel dreads and large hands to his tattooed body and the faint lines at the corners of his piercing eyes.

“I’m fine, Baby Blue, since I won’t let you out of my sight ever again.” That sounds like a sweet threat. The sweetest I’ve ever heard.

Which reminds me… “My being kidnapped by a mentally unstable ex is not going to stop us from talking about your lies and over-the-top controlling behavior,” I state. My voice is weak, but my resolution is strong.

He grits his teeth. “Don’t mention that fucker ever again if you want me to stay sane,” he hisses.

This is going to be a toughie.