Page 48 (1/2)

“All right” Marcus’s voice is hard, and it seeht!”

Al, I’ a little as disorientation floods me Marcus pulls ht I can feel the rapid thud of his heart against my back as I blink up at Theo

The blond one from their depths

He looks almost… shocked

Because he didn’t expect me to kiss him? Or because he didn’t knoould be like that when I did?

I can’t hide the dazed shock in my own expression as I stare at Theo as if I’m transfixed What the hell was that? What just happened?

Marcus releases me, and Theo tenses as his friend steps forward, every line of his muscular body taut and hard For a second, I’ to beat the shit out of Theo just like he did to Greg, and my stomach drops out I don’t want to see that I don’t want to see e

But more than that, I don’t want to see it between these two men I don’t want to knohat happens when the deep friendship between them fractures

Did I just fracture it?

A h it shouldn’t We’re on an uneven playing field, and as thewhatever I have to in order to survive

But so about the bond between these threeI’ve ever seen before in ed for—in those rare moments when I could admit to that kind of weakness in myself

It’s not the kind of thing that should be broken lightly

Marcus’s muscles shift as he clenches and unclenches his hands Theo watches hi like he wants to fight either

Ryland, too, is tense, and the look of fury on his face when he shifts his gaze tohe’s thrown my way before

Then Marcus turns slowly, his eyes finding one He looks almost calm