Fractured Brotherhood (Devil's Knights 2nd Generation 7)

Tess

“Just a little bit,” I grunted.

“Are you getting it?” Zag called.

My thighs clenched around his neck, and I pulled with all my weight on the board. A loud crack sounded, and the board shifted in my hands.

“Oh my god,” I gasped.

“Did you get it?” Zag called.

The board was still on the window, but it was looser than it had been. I pried on the board again, but it didn’t budge anymore. “I think if I keep working on it, I can get it.” I probably wasn’t going to have any nails left by the time I got it off, but at least we would be closer to getting out of here.

“Take a break for a second, babe.” Zag moved away from the window and swung me off of his shoulders.

My feet hit the floor, and I braced my hands on Zag’s shoulders. “I don’t need to take a break, Zag. I need to keep working on the window, and I’m the only one who can do it. It’s not like I can put you on my shoulders.”

Zag chuckled. “I’d like to see you try, but maybe give me a couple of minutes. I think my choice to stay up most of the night is catching up to me.”

“Are you okay?” I asked. I moved my hand up to his neck and cupped his cheek. His skin was clammy and hot to the touch.

“I think I just need to sleep, babe. I’m fucking exhausted,” he sighed.

“Maybe you should have listened to me when I said you needed to sleep last night,” I lectured.

He stepped back from me, but I followed his backward steps. “Well, I’ll listen to you right now. Let me take a power nap, and we can get back to busting out of here.”

“Wait,” I called. I stepped around Zag and sat down before he could. “You were my p-p-pillow last night, so now I c-c-can be yours.” I patted my shoulder.

“I’m too tired to argue with you right now, babe.” Zag collapsed next to me and leaned on me. His cheek hit my shoulder, and he draped an arm around my waist.

I laid my hand on his forehead and pursed my lips. “Are you s-s-sure you’re just tired?” Sweat was on his forehead, and he felt very warm. I wasn’t sure exactly what the symptoms of exhaustion were, but I didn’t think being clammy and hot were any of them.

“Yeah, babe,” he murmured.

I laid my head back on the hard wall and sighed. I was probably just overreacting.

A yawn escaped my lips, and I closed my eyes. I was feeling tired, too. Maybe we both just needed to rest, and then we could get back to trying to get the window open.

Just a little power nap, and we would be back to business.