Page 112 of After the Burn

“Is my momma still alive?” Rory asked, rubbing the sleep from her eyes.

Finley pulled her into his arms. “Yes.”

The little girl sighed and relaxed into his hold.

I stared intently at Harper. Her body was still feverish. Her breathing remained shallow.

The infection was still inside her, but it had stopped advancing.

For now.

“What happens next?” I asked.

Finley gazed at Harper with hope in his eyes. “We wait.”

CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE

TARYN

Ineeded air.

The procedure had taken more out of me than I cared to admit.

“We need to secure this place.” Adrian pulled the lines from my arms and helped me slide off the table.

“I’m going to take Max out.” I pulled my hair down and re-braided it, letting it hang down my back.

Adrian frowned. “I don’t think that’s a good idea after donating that much blood.”

The one thing that was going to suck about having two men in my life was the overprotectiveness.

I wasn’t the girl from the horror movies who went into the dark attic, or the heroine who had a serial killer after her and went out for a walk alone.

I was smarter than that.

“While I appreciate your concern, I can look after myself. I don’t want to walk around rotting any more than you want me to.” I looked up at him.

Beck smirked. “We’re the property of a very capable woman.” He clapped Adrian on the back. “You need to trust her judgment.”

“Weren’t you the one freaking out about her donating?” Lucas sarcastically drawled.

Beck's eyes narrowed. "Just because I dislike watching my woman’s blood drain slowly doesn’t mean I doubt her ability to handle herself.”

“I’ll go with you.” Wren had Mojo tucked under her arm. “He could do with a potty break.”

“Well, now we should all feel better,” Lucas laughed as he left the room, presumably to double-check that the building was clear.

Wren watched him go. “I don’t suggest ever letting that little prick between your legs. He has disappointment written all over him.”

I rolled my eyes. “Max, come.”

“Stay close.” Adrian eyed me as if he were two seconds away from keeping me inside.

“Yes, sir.” I saluted him.

His eyes filled with heat.

“I knew he was the wax-on-the-nipples type.” Wren poked me with her elbow. “You better hide the candles when you're alone.”