Page 157 of The Obvious Check
“I really don't think that's going to do much.”
“No, but if you clean him up on the way home, I can examine him immediately instead of wasting time. Plus, Madison's there, and you know her. She won't stop asking questions until we give her what she wants.”
“Watch it,” Dash warns from the driver's seat. “That's my girlfriend you're talking about.”
“Sorry,” Henry mutters, sinking back into his seat. “Just stating facts, that's all.”
I take out a couple of wipes and start gently dabbing the blood away as Dash pulls out of the parking lot. Cade closes his eyes, relaxing into my touch. His nose looks swollen and there's a nasty bruise blooming under his eye, but apart from that, he's looking surprisingly better than I expected.
“We did it, Pretty Girl,” Cade says with his eyes closed and a peaceful smile spreading across his battered face.
“I think you meanyoudid it.”
“Nope. I wouldn't have won without you, so technically, you kind of saved yourself.”
“How?”
“By making every man on this earth fall in love with you,” he rasps, his voice lazy and content as he takes me in. “Granted, Jeremy beat the shit out of me for the privilege, but I'll take it. If it means you're free afterward, and you are.”
Free.
I've been fighting for the concept of freedom for so long that hearing it's finally arrived feels surreal.
Cade's breathing is still ragged as I continue cleaning his face. “I won, Pretty Girl.” His voice carries something deeper thanrelief. “And now we can take this whole fucking place down with us.”
Chapter 36
“Ouch.” I wince like a little bitch, backing away from another antiseptic wipe. When Savannah first started cleaning me up, I thought that there was nothing better than being doted on by your wife after getting the absolute shit kicked out of you. Felt kind of domestic. Almost romantic.
Now? Now the wipes are hitting the parts of me that look like they lost a fight with a meat grinder, and suddenly the charm of it all has worn the hell off.
Savannah sighs apologetically before pulling out another wipe from our first aid kit. Then, because I apparently married a sadist, she dabs it right on the same damn spot on my cheek, the one that’s probably five minutes away from needing stitches.
I squeeze Savannah’s hips, dragging her attention away from the busted blender wound on my cheek and back to my eyes. Where it belongs. “Hey, you know, it might be easier to clean up in the shower. Obviously, I’m in no condition to go in alone, so I’ll need your help.” I raise my brows, waiting for her to take the hint.
I’m here. I’m alive and I want to fuck the brains out of my wife even if I can hardly move.
Madison makes a gagging sound. “We’re still here, perv.”
“Sorry, sis,” I say, not taking my eyes off Savannah, studying her face. Perfection. That’s what she is and she doesn’t even know it. “This ismyhouse and I’m talking tomywife.”
Savannah slows her dabbing, and a small smile plays on her face. Her gaze connects with mine and without saying anything, I tell her everything.
Yes, that’s right. You’re my fucking wife. Always and forever.
Madison groans. “Yes. We all know you’re disgustingly in love.” She raises her hand, flailing it in our direction. Glad to see I can give her a little payback. “She’s your wife, yada, yada, yada, I know. Weallknow. WhatIdon’t know is what the hell happened last night while I was curled up, snuggling Stanley, dreaming of his next costume change.”
“It’s Mr. Biz,” Henry corrects my sister, who lets out an obnoxious snort.
“Ugh. That’s not an answer to my question, Henry. Why are you even here?”
Henry lounges on the couch like he owns the place. His legs are spread, his arm tucked behind his head with a smug grin plastered across his face. He’s clearly enjoying getting under Madison’s skin, which is both impressive and stupid as hell considering the company he’s currently keeping.
“Because your big bro needed a little help from me.”
She raises her brow. “You really think it’s a good time to talk aboutlittle things.” Her gaze drops to his crotch and my flesh would be crawling if I’d thought they actually did anything together.
“Like you’ve seen it.”
