How West Was Won (Haven, Texas 7)

Relatively.

“Right,” Alec said grimly. “What else?”

Crap. They weren’t going to give up. “My finger might be broken. I can buddy tape that, not much you can do for a broken finger. Other than that, it’s mainly just bruises.”

She lowered her gaze with shame. She should have been faster. Stronger. Should have fought him off. She should have done something. Useless as always.

“A lot bruises,” Mia said quietly. “The one on your shoulder looks particularly bad.”

“Sunshine?” West asked her in a surprisingly gentle voice.

She knew he could do gentle, she’d seen him that way with Mia when he hadn’t realized she’d bee

n watching.

But he’d never, not once, been gentle with her, so she was shocked. And she wasn’t entirely sure she liked it.

Too little. Too late.

Still, she answered because she didn’t think West Malone was a man to bluff. And she really wasn’t in a position to fight him off if he decided to strip her bare and inspect her all over.

Okay, she really wished she didn’t find that thought incredibly hot.

“He hit me with a cane,” she told them.

She heard Mia suck in a breath. She sounded like she was in pain.

“Your brother hit you with a cane?” The sound of West’s voice made it clear he was in more than just pain. It surprised her he could feel that much emotion over what happened to her, when he didn’t even really like her.

If he doesn’t like you, why is he here?

She had no answer for that one.

“Yeah,” she said quietly. She wasn’t sure if he was asking for more than that.

West swore long and low.

“West,” Alec said in a warning voice. “We haven’t got long until Jake is here, rein it in.”

West shot his eyes to Alec. He didn’t say anything else. However, she couldn’t help but glance over at him, and she saw his jaw was tense.

“And your shoulder?” Alec asked her in a soft voice.

“Years ago, he dislocated my shoulder,” she told him equally as quietly. “Then he wrenched it back into place. So, he didn’t have to take me to the hospital, I guess. He tried never to do things that would land me in the hospital.”

“And was he always successful?” Alec asked.

“No.”

“Fuck. Fuck!” West spun and smashed his fist into the wall, making her gasp.

“West!” Alec turned to his brother and grabbed his shoulders, spinning him around. Her heart raced, her head swimming. But her reaction wasn’t because she was scared of him. No, she was worried about him.

Dark, swirling energy filled the room, coming directly from West.

“Fucking rein it in,” Alec commanded.

West said nothing.