Page 2 of Rescued By Midnight

I may as well fix breakfast. If he’s out hunting, he’ll be hungry when he returns.

It’s strange taking steps around the cabin without the metallic slither of the chain following my every move.

I stop in front of the camp stove. What am I doing? My dreams aren’t filled with chains and camp stoves. They’re filled with my perfect home in San Esteban, and my perfect husband. They’re filled with clean floors, a spotless kitchen, and paint swatches for the nursery, for the perfect family we were planning.

Turning back toward my cot, I see the chain. Unlocked, coiled under the bed like a waiting snake.

If this is a test, I will fail it like I failed the others.

Returning to the door, I open it.

And then I run.

CODY - NOW

Somewhere behind and above us, the Vice DJ switches to the next song. Everyone dancing screams in delight, and several people at the bar abandon their drinks and run for the floor.

The dancers seem so young, although the club caters to ages twenty-one and up.

Leaning over, I nudge Landon with my elbow. “Tell me again why we’re in this club?”

“Because.” He spins around on his stool at the bar to survey the dance floor. “Somewhere in that crowd is the girl we’re taking home with us tonight.”

I snort. “Nope.”

“If we’re lucky, we can convert her to our kinky ways.”

“Still nope.”

He sighs and pretends to stare morosely into his whiskey. “You’re about as much fun as my sixth grade teacher, Mr. Kleff.”

“Yeah? Did he also tag-team dates with you?”

He scoffs. “Don’t be an asshole, Wells.”

“Don’t be a dickhead, Sprechter.”

He looks tempted to fight it out, something we often did in college when we’d get competitive over a woman. However, we stopped fighting once we realized we were much better at pursuing a woman together, and giving her everything she could possibly want—twice.

Landon holds up his drink. “You’ve been walking around like a sad country song ever since the end of the Nove job.”

The Nove job. We’d been in charge of helping Seth Colton and Damiano Romano protect their girlfriend, Madison. Witnessing their interactions pushed Landon toward something like hope for our future, for finding another woman for a long-term relationship.

There’s no hope. We had it, and it’s gone now. Forever.

And it’s not just the Nove job. Too much has happened over the past five years.

“What the hell fucked you up?” His lips quirk. “Did your dick stop working?”

I bend my elbow and aim for his dick, but he’s too fast. Or maybe he expected it.

“The only impotent thing in this room is your sense of humor.” I stare into my nearly empty pint glass, wondering if I should order another.

“Get your ass up and dance with someone,” he says. “Anyone. I swear if you don’t, I’ll…”

I raise my eyebrows, waiting for his threat.

“I’ll call your sister.”