Free In His Sights (Don't Tell) by Rie Warren Page A

think I won’t save you, because you saved me the first time you kissed me.”
    My heart bounded loudly in my chest and I couldn’t speak.
    “I guess we’re in agreement then.” Smirking, Mayce turned around and patted his ass. “Hop on.”
    “No.”
    “No?” He snorted. As he strong-armed me over his shoulder, he proved just how powerful he was and just how useless I’d become. “Stop it. Stop thinking.”
    “I wasn’t—”
    “Yes, you were. Either let me carry you or hold you or help you.” He slid me down his body. “You’re not a weakling. You’re not useless. You’ve been tortured.” His eyes slammed shut. He shook his head. “I just want to take care of you, so point the way and let me help.”
    After an hour of me stumbling and him holding me up, we made the fire-lit clearing of my camp and warriors. Weapons immediately raised in our direction.
    “Stand down!” I called.
    “Hawke, is that you? We’d given you up for dead.” Ryder strode forward, machete at his side.
    “Not dead, just dead weight.”
    The burly redhead glared at Mayce. “So you’re the one that made him risk his life.”
    Mayce helped me hop to the fire. “I’m the one who got him out of there, dickhead.”
    Ryder’s eyes narrowed. I limped between the two. “What he means is it’s very nice to meet you.”
    Mayce blushed when he lowered me to the ground and stretched out my aching leg. “I’m sorry, gorgeous. Manners, right?”
    “This is Ryder, and Ailene, Aryck, Janus, Georgie, and Birdie.” I introduced him to my inner circle. “And this is my lover, Mayce.”
    “The one who made you whistle this past month.” Janus smiled in Mayce’s direction.
    “The one who got you strung up.” Ryder growled.
    “I don’t give a hard fuck if you kill me, but Hawke needs food, drink, warmth. So do me a favor, Ryder, and stoke that fire before you roast me over it.”
    Mayce’s words were eerily similar to my guards when they’d talked about burning me alive. I slammed my eyes shut, inhaling sharply. When I spoke it was a low command. “That’s enough, Ryder. I will not have my people treating Mayce this way.”
    “Huh.” Ryder scratched his hair until it peaked on top of his head, frowning between us. “Then I guess I’m sorry too.”
    Mayce kissed me on the forehead. “Nice work, baby.” He unarmed himself, placing his Beretta and knives on the ground. He made himself as harmless as he could in order to protect me once again.
    Food was plated up and served so fast my stomach chomped at the bit, growling loudly.
    “Water first. Sip it.” Mayce’s hand lingered beneath my jaw as he tipped my chin up.
    The cold essence wet my tongue, cooled my throat. He fed me while the others watched us curiously, hands close to but not on their weapons. The meat was savory and recently cooked, so good I didn’t care if it burned my throat going down.
    “Slow down, slow down.” He admonished, stroking my arms. “Take it easy, I don’t want you to get sick.”
    All the while, Mayce held me on his lap. He gave me small tidbits, enough to ease the emptiness in my stomach, not enough to make my body rebel. I fell asleep in his arms, drifting awake when I heard Ryder speak.
    “He loves you.”
    “I know.” Mayce cradled my head against his shoulder, brushing his lips against my temple. “I hate myself for what they did to him.”
    I cranked my eyes open enough to see Ryder stand up.
    “Forgiveness is easy when you start with yourself,” he said. “That’s his tent. Keep him close. We’ll be on guard tonight.”
    Mayce helped me to the tent, laying me on my blankets inside. “Just going for some water so I can clean you up.”
    “I don’t want you to touch me.” I curled over onto my side. In the space of a week, I’d been beaten, traumatized, torn apart. Skin and bones, I was almost too tired to put up a fight.
    “Too fucking bad, because I’m going to see you and touch you every day for the rest of our