Page 81 of Split You Open

Wes is the one to come over and unlock the cage.

The fact that they’re here standing with her rather than aligning themselves with me, the man who brought them all together, is fucking perfect.

This is exactly what I’ve wanted for Blair.

When Wes steps into the cage, he pauses. The dark glare he pins me with is filled with a warning.

“I’m going to remove your gag so we can talk,” he warns. “I highly suggest you be cooperative.”

I give him a stiff nod.

Wes steps forward to undo the gag. The minute it's off I lick my dry, split lips. The motion is useless. My tongue is just as dry as my lips. Wes notices but doesn’t say anything as he leans back against the interior of the cage and crosses his arms over his chest.

“Before we begin, I want to warn you, Ledger,” Wes growls. “We’ve had an exciting morning with some unexpected visitors. I don’t think the bloodlust has abated. I highly suggest, when you open your fucking mouth, that it’s the truth that comes out.”

My achy body stiffens. Ignoring the pain that comes with the motion, I demand, “What happened?”

“Blair found herself in danger again because of you!” Santi yells from across the room. “You’re lucky we were prepared and no one got hurt.”

Relief fills my veins.

It’s not great to hear that people are snooping around Caddawalk again but knowing that these guys handled it eases the trepidation coursing through me.

Rhett’s jaw ticks before he says through clenched teeth, “We need answers, Ledger.”

“I’ll talk,” I tell them, my voice raspy from lack of use. “That’s all I’ve wanted to do.”

I look from the others to Blair—the most important person here. That’s when I notice the box in her lap. A smile spreads across my face. Maybe now she understands?

“You found my stash.”

“I found me,” Blair corrects as she tips the box over, letting the contents topple out. Then, she drops the box onto the floor. “Pieces of me, anyway.”

Her face is carefully blank, her eyes so empty and lifeless that it sends a chill down my spine.

Blair wouldn’t want to hear it now, but she reminds me a lot of Anchor at this moment. Particularly right now before he would strike down his target.

“You’ve been stalking me, Ledger.”

I nod, holding her gaze. “I have.”

“For years.”

“Yes.”

“Why?”

“You already know why.”

Blair stares at me for a long moment. Her eyes growing darker, her body going extra still. “Don’t tell me it was because of that stupid kiss.”

“Fine, I won’t say it. Doesn’t make it any less true.”

“So, I kiss you and you decide that's worth killing me?” Blair asks.

I shake my head slowly, still holding her gaze.

Wes suddenly snarls. The sound is so deep and menacing that it forces my attention away from Blair. I see the punch coming too late. Wes’s fist smashes into my cheek with the force of a fucking sledge hammer.