Page 82 of Tangled Lies

This was Stockholm syndrome or some kind of mental illness. It had to be. No one just got attached to people likethis. I thought that, but honestly I’d been so focused on revenge and how to hurt my uncle, I’d forgotten how to feel. I could act like I was happy. Pretend like everything was fine. But until Ronan and Jett literally fucked me, my numb existence seemed to disappear.

I hated the burning in my eyes. I wanted to just blink it all away, but it didn’t go away. And now seeing Talon just laying here with an IV and so very pale, I let a single tear slip.

“Where are we, Knox?”

He yawned from the corner.

“Private clinic. Doc does house calls, but moments like this need something more. Well, Talon needed a lot more than a few stitches. The serrated blade punctured his appendix. Good thing he didn’t need it. He’ll be fine by tomorrow.”

Knox kicked up his legs and leaned back like he was able to relax, but I saw how he watched Talon.

“Sleep, kid. You’ve got a wedding to plan.”

I swallowed. I couldn’t think about that right now. What was marriage anyway? Just another transaction.

Right now I was far more concerned about Talon than I was about that.

I laid my head down on the bed. I was glad this wasn’t a hospital. Or not the kind I had been to. I didn’t like them. I could still remember waking up to beeping and an empty room. No one had been there when I woke up because they weren’t alive anymore.

I reached for Talon’s hand and held it even though he couldn’t hold mine back.

I never got to say goodbye to my parents. My uncle had them cremated before I was discharged from the hospital. Now all I had was a monument, and the stone didn’t talk back.

There were no more tears, just anger.

I wanted my uncle to hurt.

I’d watched Talon breathing, finding comfort in him even as he lay there. I must have fallen back asleep because the next thing I knew, Talon’s gentle squeeze of my hand caught me by surprise.

“Princess, I knew you cared.”

I smiled up at him from where my head still lay on my arm. I shifted and winced at the pain of my stiff body.

“What can I say, you’re growing on me like a tumor.”

He laughed and that turned to a wince and a cough.

“Do you want some water?”

I turned to grab a glass and pitcher, but Knox was already pouring it.

“How are you feeling?” Knox asked, handing him the glass. I stood to help Talon hold his head up.

“Margaux, I can sit up just fine. And I feel like I got stabbed in the abdomen. Please tell me someone avenged me. I can’t look cool in front of my girl like this.”

I tried to hide just how much that hit me in the heart.

“You’re so stupid. You and Jett are going to be the downfall of us. Avenge you? Fucking hell. They’re sitting in barrels liquefying as we speak. Marky-boy is waiting for us to come back.”

I yawned without meaning to.

“Did you at least get the information you needed last night? Mark’s an asshole. You’re the last person I would steal from,” I said.

Talon pulled me into a tight hug.

I melted into the warmth and safety of him.

“That’s the best hug I’ve ever had.” Talon held me tighter, and I didn’t fight it.