Page 78 of Rattle the Cage

Moving away from the heavy metal door, I settled at the center of the living room and kept my eyes trained on the lens. Somewhere, Nash and Blade were watching me. If they could feel my ire through the screen, they just might cave.

But Tess might have been more angry than I was.

She rushed past me, her movements creating a gust of wind as she zipped through the safe house.

At the metal door, she let out a frustrated wail and slammed her closed fists into the door. “Let me out!”

I watched her from the corner of my eye as she pounded into the steel.

Of course it wouldn’t budge, but it’d wear my Ragdoll down. Maybe even enough to have a conversation. A real one.

If nothing else, it was a joy to watch her panic — to see her so terrified to be alone with me that she was willing to break those fragile little bones in her hands.

Tess banged harder, looking up at the top of the door. “Cut it out, assholes!” Her breath had grown ragged. “I’m not doing this!”

After a moment, it was clear that Nash and Blade weren’t going to give in. For all my stubbornness, I may have trained them to be just as difficult. Maybe even more so.

That was my fault.

Moving toward the kitchen, I started to raid the pantry for food.

Maybe those bikers left something behind.

Anything in the fridge would have rotted by now.

But the open box of cereal sitting on the top shelf would be stale at worst.

Popping it open, I dug my hands into the plastic sleeve and grabbed a fistful. I tipped my head back and let the crumbled, rainbow-colored pieces fall into my mouth.

The loud crunch of the cereal in my mouth made Tess stop her raging long enough to shoot me a glare.

Worn out, she pressed her back into the metal door and slid down to the cold concrete. “What the fuck are you doing? Aren’t you going to help?”

Scoffing, I shook my head. “Nope.”

Laughing, Tess put her hands on her hips and stormed across the safehouse to the kitchen. “You have some fucking nerve.”

“True.” I growled as I leaned against the countertop, letting my arms stretch out. I knew the position would make me look even bigger than I already was.

Maybe it will remind her that I could kill her. And more importantly, that I won’t.

But instead, I saw her eyes flick down my body — a rush of need in her eyes.

We were going to be stuck here for a while: as long as it took me to find the words I’d desperately needed to say to this woman. And unlike in the car, she wouldn’t be able to run and hide while I bumbled through it this time.

As Tess stared at the black abyss of ink that claimed my arm, I tensed the muscle, amused by the speed with which she averted her eyes.

Not fast enough, Ragdoll.

But she was stubborn, determined not to admit what she really wanted. Instead, she pulled out a stool for herself, letting it scrape against the concrete before throwing herself down.

“This is fucking ridiculous.” She shook her head as she held it in her hands, letting her bleached blonde hair drape over her face.

“Mhm.” Sliding the box across the counter, I nodded toward it. “Have some.”

“No.” Tess hissed back like a feral alley cat.

Ignoring her, I shrugged. “No milk, but the stale isn’t so bad if you let it sit in your mouth.”