Lover Awakened (Black Dagger Brotherhood #3)(35)

Phury lost it and launched himself at Zsadist, grabbing his twin by the throat and throwing him against the wall.

“What is wrong with you!” he yelled as he crashed Z into the plaster. “You f*cking animal!”

Z didn’t fight back as he was slammed again. And all he said was, “Take her away. Take her somewhere else.”

Rhage and Wrath burst into the room. Both started talking, but Phury couldn’t hear anything for the roar between his ears. He’d never hated Z before. Had cut his twin slack for all he’d endured. But going after Bella…

“You sick f*ck,” Phury hissed. He nailed that hard body to the wall once more. “You sick f*ck…God, you disgust me.”

Z merely stared back, his black eyes like asphalt, opaque and flat.

Suddenly Rhage’s massive arms clamped around them, gathering them up into a bone-crushing bear hug. In a whisper, the brother said, “Bella doesn’t need this right now, boys.”

Phury dropped his hold and pushed himself free. Yanking his coat back into place, he snapped, “Get him out of here until we move her.”

God, he was shaking so badly he was almost hyperventilating. And the anger wouldn’t quit, even as Z left voluntarily, with Rhage tight on his heels.

Phury cleared his throat and glanced at Wrath. “My lord, will you give me leave to attend to her in private?”

“Yeah, I will.” Wrath’s voice was a nasty growl as he headed for the door. “And we’ll make sure Z doesn’t come back for a while.”

Phury looked over at Bella. She was trembling as she blinked and wiped at her eyes. When he approached her, she shrank back against the pillows.

“Bella, it’s Phury.”

Her body relaxed a little. “Phury?”

“Yeah, it’s me.”

“I can’t see.” Her voice quavered like hell. “I can’t…”

“I know, it’s just the medicine. Let me get something to clean it off.”

He went into the bathroom and came back with a damp cloth, figuring she needed to get a look at her surroundings more than she had to have the ointment.

She flinched as he took her chin in his palm.

“Easy, Bella…” When he put the cloth up to her eyes, she struggled, then clawed at him. “No, no…put your hands down. I’ll get it off.”

“Phury?” she said hoarsely. “Is it really you?”

“Yes, it’s me.” He sat down on the edge of the bed. “You’re at the Brotherhood’s compound. You were brought here about seven hours ago. Your family’s been notified that you’re safe, and as soon as you want to, you can call them.”

When she put her hand on his arm, he froze. With a tentative touch, she felt her way up to his shoulder to his neck, then touched his face and finally his hair. She smiled a little when she felt the thick waves and then she brought some of it to her nose. She breathed in deep and put her other hand on his leg.

“It truly is you. I remember the smell of your shampoo.”

The closeness and the contact sizzled through Phury’s clothes and skin, going straight into his blood. He felt like a total bastard to feel anything sexual, but he couldn’t stop his body. Especially as she patted her way down his long hair until she was touching his pectorals.

His lips opened, his breath getting short. He wanted to drag her against his chest and hold her tight. Not for sex, though it was true his body wanted that from her. No, right now he just needed to feel her warmth and reassure himself that she was alive.

“Let me take care of your eyes,” he said. Jesus, his voice was deep.

When she nodded, he carefully wiped at her lids. “How’s that?”

She blinked. Smiled a little. Put her hand on his face.

“I can see you better now.” But then she frowned. “How did I get out of there? I can’t remember anything except…I let the other civilian go and David came back. And then there was a car ride. Or was that a dream? I dreamt that Zsadist saved me. Did he?”

Phury was not up to talking about his twin, even tangentially. He rose to his feet and put the washcloth on the nightstand. “Come on, let’s get you to your room.”

“Where am I now?” She looked around, and then her mouth parted. “This is Zsadist’s room.”

How the hell did she know that? “Let’s go.”

“Where is he? Where’s Zsadist?” Urgency threaded through her voice. “I need to see him. I need—”

“I’m going to take you to your room—”

“No! I want to stay—”

She was so agitated now he decided to stop trying to talk to her. He pulled back the sheets so he could help her up—

Shit, she was naked. He yanked the covers back into place.

“Ah, sorry…” He pushed a hand into his hair. Oh, God… The graceful lines of her body were something he was never going to forget. “Let me…um, let me get you something to wear.”

He went to Z’s closet and was stunned by how empty it was. There wasn’t even a robe to cover her with, and he’d be goddamned if he’d put her in one of his twin’s fighting shirts. He took off his leather peacoat and walked over to her again.

“I’ll turn my back while you put this on. We’ll find you a robe—”