Page 48 of Trapped Truth

“Thought I was just a name on a scrap of paper?” Blaine grins.

“You… You’re not… This isn’t⁠—”

“Tom.” Ember remains surprisingly calm. “I’m a grown woman. Mind your own business.”

“He’s a convicted criminal, Em! An ex-mobster!”

“And I was a street fighter for the fucking cartel, or did you forget? People change. You’d do well to remember that in your line of work.”

“Four men! You couldn’t choose just one?”

“No. I can’t, and I won’t.”

While Tom dissolves into a series of flabbergasted splutters, Blaine observes the scene with a look of mild amusement. Trust him to make no apologies. We all know what he spent our first night home doing in Ember’s bed, based on the echoes. I’m not ashamed to admit I tugged off to it.

“No wedding invitations,” Blaine repeats Ember’s answer, ever the shit-stirrer. “Though you’ll be the first to know when the church bells are going to chime, Mr Lawson.”

Visibly terse shoulders rolling back, it’s not a surprise to see Tom place the crystal tumbler of whiskey down and launch himself at Blaine. Outgunned or not, he might be mad enough to win in a fist fight.

“Tom!” Ember leaps to her feet. “No!”

While she dives between the two warring men with Warner hot on her heels, I lounge back on the sofa to watch the show. Hyland sips his drink, doing much the same.

“Ten pounds on Tom,” he mutters to me.

I watch Ember’s brother cock a badly-formed fist. “You’re on.”

CHAPTER 9

EMBER

WHY - BRISTON MARONEY

Surviving a ride to London’s largest hospital with Axel sulking and Blaine behind the wheel, ignoring every last traffic law known to man, should be classified as an extreme sport. I’d be surprised if he actually has a legal license given his tumultuous childhood.

Honestly, it’s a welcome relief to escape inside the warm building and navigate towards the outpatient clinic where Axel’s booked for his checkup. With Christmas rapidly approaching, the weather is temperamental and bitterly cold.

“I’m alright.” He walks slowly, struggling to breathe. “Just give me a sec to catch up.”

“Sure you don’t need a wheelchair?” Blaine eyes him critically.

“Shut the fuck up. I can walk perfectly fine.”

“Guys.” I check the time on my phone. “Stop flirting, we’re going to be late for the appointment.”

As Blaine strolls past me towards the department, he drops his voice to a sultry purr. “He wishes.”

Balancing the sheer amount of testosterone bouncing around our team is going to be the death of me. If it isn’t Blaine stirring shit up, it’s one of the others responding in kind. Some days it almost feels like camaraderie.

Weirdly, it gives me hope.

Maybe we can make this work after all.

“I’d take you over him any day.” Axel winks at me despite his pink cheeks.

“Thanks, Ax. But in all seriousness, I can get a chair if it’ll help.”

“Nah, I’m good. Just stiff. It’s not even that painful.”