Page 55 of The Forgotten

“Nah, I want to make sure my guys aren’t double crossing you,” he says. His voice reminds me of ground glass, and I press myself closer against Gareth.

Raising the arm that’s not holding a gun, he wraps it around my shoulders.

“I saw your mutt is outside,” Raynard adds.

“Raynard, this is Olivia,” Gareth says. “Olivia, I’ve known this man my entire life, even if he doesn’t share a lick of blood between any of my brothers and I, we still consider him family. Uncle, when Dylan’s guards came for Olivia, Balthazar attacked them. I woke up because of his barking, but they still managed to inject us all with a sedative. When we woke up, I found that they’d knocked my dog out with a kick to the head.”

“Is he okay?” I ask, horrified.

Raynard sighs, nodding. “He looked to be. He’s whining and complaining out there, but I reminded him to be good.”

“I really don’t think we were given a full dose of a sedative,” Gareth admits.

“You weren’t. I ran into one of my men outside,” he says. “He said it was the least he could give and still make it look good. They needed to play along because this piece of shit was acting crazier than usual.”

“He shot someone,” I remember, chewing on my lip. “The guard refused to pin me down so Dylan could rape me.”

“Fucker,” Raynard mutters, gazing at Dylan with disgust. “He shot Idris. That’s who met me in the hallway. Idris is fine, used his belt as a tourniquet and kept it moving. He’s a good man.”

“Wow,” I whisper.

“I am deeply sorry that Dylan had treated you so badly. I’m sure Gareth and his brothers plan to ensure he never has a chance to do this to anyone again,” he says.

“You can speak plainly with her,” Gareth says, shooting someone. “Did he not realize I was right here? Idiot.”

Everyone around me is crazy.

Raynard raises his brow before shrugging. “I suppose patricide isn’t particularly horrific when you’ve just been kidnapped,” he decides. “Make a statement, Gareth, while still leaving me enough of a body to return home with. I need everyone to know that your rule won’t be bucked. There will beno discussion that disproves you and your brothers are the new bosses.”

“You’re okay with all of this?” I ask.

“Oh yeah,” Raynard says, nodding. “Having a loose cannon for a crime boss is bad for business.”

“All clear!” Maddox yells.

Raynard rises to his feet easily, motioning for someone to help him pick Dylan up.

“You have a murder basement, son?” he asks nonchalantly as a couple of men lift Dylan.

“Our woods are a bit full at the moment,” Gareth chuckles, helping me up as he stands. My legs are shaky from the adrenaline crash I’m now experiencing, and I’m getting over the sedative’s effect quickly. “Maddox has a warehouse that will work for this. He bought it just in case we had to get our hands dirty.”

“Sounds like you were never planning to keep your noses clean,” Raynard chuckles, nodding as the rest of the Behan clan surrounds us. “Everyone good?”

“Yeah,” Aled says. “We didn’t lose anyone either, though there are a few injuries.”

“We’ll get everyone patched up,” Raynard shrugs. “Let’s get out of here before we get policemen sniffing around, yeah?”

Gareth carefully picks me up without thought as my legs buckle, and Raynard gazes hard at me.

“You’re tougher than you think,” he says. “Take a break, Olivia. Let’s make sure we get you all something to eat too. I bet you didn’t eat at all, huh?”

My cheeks heat at how easily he speaks about my heat, and Maddox glares at his uncle.

“Was I insensitive?” Raynard asks. “This is what I get for being surrounded by people who talk about this shit withoutthought. I forget how to interact with normal people. Sorry, Olivia. Am I wrong, though?”

As the group begins moving toward the exit, my stomach growls. Mortified, I hide my face in Gareth’s neck.

“No, you’re not wrong,” I mumble. “I’m hungry.”