Flash Burned (Burned 2)

“Jesus, Dane.”

There were enough glittery rays filtering into the room for me to see the scar over his right eyebrow. I reached for the line of buttons on his shirt and slowly undid them, my fingers trembling. As the material fell open, I gasped.

He had more scars. Angry, long ones that ran over his right pec and across the left side of his rib cage. Nasty slashes I wasn’t sure were from glass or surgery.

“There are a few more on my back,” he confided. “You’ll have to get used to them.”

I covered my mouth with my hand as the corners of my lips quivered and a sobfest threatened again.

“I’ll be all right,” he tried to assure me.

My gaze dropped, falling on the sleek black cane resting against a table. I hadn’t seen it with my previous tunnel vision.

“Are you having trouble walking?” I asked, my voice full of agony—for him.

“Wrought iron from the terrace caught me in the leg. Lodged in my hamstring.” He said it nonchalantly. My gaze snapped up to meet his. With his set jaw and an intense look on his face, he was anything but nonchalant.

“He’s lucky to be walking,” Amano set the record straight. “Hell, he’s lucky to be alive.” I heard the pain in his tone.

Turning to my bodyguard, I told him, “You saved his life. I can’t thank you enough.”

“This is a very … tenuous … time. I know you understand that—”

“I do,” I assured Amano, Dane, all of us. “That’s why I’m doing everything I can. Why I’ll do whatever you ask.”

“This all has to remain a secret, baby,” Dane said. “I know it’s hard, not fair, but—”

“It’s okay,” I hastily offered. “I get it. I’ll play my part. Just … don’t totally disappear again. I have to see you.” I gripped Dane’s arm. “I can’t not be with you … for so long.” I turned weepy again. I couldn’t help it.

He gathered me close. “We’ll figure it out, sweetheart.”

I believed him. Put my trust in him, as always.

Amano said, “I’ll come by in the morning and pick you up Ari.”

I slid a glance over my shoulder at Kyle.

His teeth clenched for a moment. He pinned me with a hard look. “You’re just getting sucked in deeper and deeper.”

I knew that already. But I wouldn’t walk away from this. I couldn’t walk away. Dane was alive. He was here. With me.

“Thank you for driving me,” I told Kyle. Knowing I was hurting him further. But I’d been honest from day one. Dane was my lifeblood.

“I’m just saying,” Kyle continued, unable to drop the issue. His gaze shifte

d to Dane. “This is the second time she’s been torn apart because of you.”

“I’m aware of that,” Dane said. I felt his muscles tense. “And I’m not happy about it, Kyle. But I do appreciate that you’re such a good friend to Ari. That you’ve helped her through.”

“I told you I’d be there the next time things got bad. I won’t let her down.”

“Kyle,” I pleaded. “Now’s not really the time for this. We’ll talk tomorrow.”

“Yeah,” he said with a confident tone and the hitch of his chin. “Because I’ll still be around.” Then he stalked off.

Amano followed him out.

I slumped against Dane, my heart sinking when it came to Kyle. Yet conversely soaring because I was in Dane’s arms again. “This doesn’t get any easier.”