Page 87 of Deadfall

I carefully moved around him and grabbed a water bottle from the fridge.

“Lots of leftovers in there,” Hangman said.

“Thanks, I’m not hungry.”

Hangman frowned when he saw the tear tracks down the dirt on my face. I quickly looked away, suddenly exhausted. I really wanted that shower. Hangman gently lifted my chin.

“Everything okay?” He asked quietly.

I fought to keep my breath steady and my lip from trembling at the soft touch.

“I’m fine.”

“What the fuck is going on in here?” Riggs demanded.

We both exploded apart like we’d been doing something wrong. Riggs shoved Hangman aside and grabbed my wrist in a bruising grasp.

“You declined to stay with me because why—you’re going to shack up with him instead?”

“What?” Hangman and I exclaimed at the same time.

“No! Riggs, that’s not it at all!” I continued.

“No way, man, I was just grabbing a drink and I ran into her,” Hangman protested.

Riggs whirled to face him and shoved his chest hard enough to make him take a step back.

“Back the fuck off,” Riggs snarled. “I know you always had a thing for her, but she’s mine.”

Hangman held up his hands, his mouth in a firm line, but he had a dark look on his face that made me nervous. At that moment, I knew without a doubt, Hangman would protect me if I asked. I knew that would only make everything worse.

I grabbed at Riggs. “He didn’t do anything!”

Riggs ignored me and stepped up to Hangman. “Next time I see you touch her, you’ll regret you ever did. Do I make myself clear?”

Hangman didn’t move for a long moment. I held my breath, my eyes pleaded with him over Riggs’ shoulder to stand down. Hangman nodded curtly. His gaze jumped one last time to me in concern and disappointment, before he left the kitchen.

Riggs turned. “Get cleaned up,” he snarled. “Then bring your stuff to my room. You’re staying with me from now on.”

“What the fuck? No way!” I exclaimed.

He grabbed my neck, and a quick shove sent me crashing into the fridge.

“You’re mine, Syn,” he growled. “It’s time you acted like it.”

“And if I don’t?” I whispered.

“You think you could do all this without me?” Riggs’ lips curled. “Where would you go? You have no one. No one except me.”

His words hit hard enough to take my breath away because he was right, and it pissed me the fuck off. I shoved him away and he let me go to my room. Genuine fear of how unstable he was kept me from standing my ground or escalating things too much, but this was getting out of hand.

I had no idea what to do except to obey him. I didn’t have anywhere to go. I didn’t have anyone to turn to except for him and the team. With cold clarity and despair, I realized I was once again in another cage with no way out in sight.

39

EMERSYN

Two Years Later - Age 23