Page 53 of Wonder

It’s not me who asks. I shoot Aiden a sharp look, but he’s not looking at me. He’s staring ather, a worried crease appearing in his forehead.

I still wait to hear the answer though. The guy carrying her watches us warily, his hands pulling her tighter. “She’ll be fine. You’re Kayden, yeah?”

His eyes sweep over me, cool and assessing, and I nod.

“The other one is Aiden,” Buck supplies. He leans back against the wall as the elevator jolts into descending, crossing his arms as he yawns. “Identical, you know.”

We both give him an incredulous look. Weareidentical, our facial features and eyes the same, but there are some pretty fucking obvious differences.

I clear my throat. “You?”

“Chess.” He glances down at her. “This is Alyss.”

Alyss.

One of the other men, a short fucker with a bald head that shines from the lights above us and attitude oozing from every pore looks over with a smirk. “She’s a fucking princess, isn’t she?She won’t last beyond tomorrow night, no matter how many of you she spreads her legs for. I wouldn’t mind a go though.”

Rage spreads across their faces as he cackles. He holds out a hand to me. “Bruce.”

The other man, tall and pale, shrinks away into the corner. Fear emanates from him.

Beside me, Aiden straightens, but I’m already moving.

Bruce howls as his nose crunches beneath my fist. Blood spurts as he sags back against the wall, cupping it. “What the fuck—,”

My hand finds his neck. Grips it.

“You don’t look at her again,” I say quietly. He pales as my hand squeezes. Tightens. “You certainly don’t get to touch her. In fact, you’re going to try really hard not to breathe the same fucking air as her. Tell me you understand.”

Bruce gapes, and I yank him back before shoving him back against the wall. His head makes a satisfying thud against the steel. “Y- yes, fucking hell. I was joking—,”

I lean right in. Enough that he can see that I’mnotfucking joking. “Don’t.”

Everyone is silent as I return back to my spot beside Aiden. My eyes sweep across the girl – Alyss – again. Chess shifts, pulling her closer.

He nods at me in silent thanks.

And I… nod back.

Aiden shifts. His words are low, said under his breath as the elevator comes to a stop. “What was that you said? Don’t get attached?”

“Shut up.”

22 – Alyss

Opening my eyes, I blink at the gray ceiling. There’s a stain directly over my head.

This feels familiar.

Turning my head, I wince at the soreness. Every part of my body is aching as if I’ve just run—

Oh, that’s right. I pretty much have run a marathon. Half of it holding up a ridiculously muscled man.

You’re way too fucking soft, Alyss Lidell.

The room around me is silent. Everyone is sleeping, or pretending to.

Chess is propped up against the wall beside my head, his ass planted on the floor and his head tilting forward. My eyes travel down to where he’s still gripping my hand on top of the flimsy excuse for bedding they’ve given us.