Wounded Courage (Lucky Thirteen) by S.M. Butler Page A

was counter-intuitive to actually getting out of the prison he’d put me in. But with him, it just seemed to happen. It always just seemed to happen.
    With Murphy, it was a different story. His eyebrow quirked up, his gaze shifting from me to Chris. The calm, silent way he commanded obedience and silence bled the fight out of me. I didn’t understand how he did that. He walked in and all I wanted to do was what he wanted me to do. And that ticked me off.
    “Can’t leave you two alone for two minutes without the bickering. It’s like we’re ten again.” He shook his head.
    “But when we were ten, you were twelve.”
    “Shut it,” Murphy snapped at me. He rounded on Chris. “And you damn well know better.”
    Chris’s expression sunk into sullenness. We ate in silence for a long time. I didn’t know what they were thinking about. I would have to talk to them eventually. And then my fate would be sealed, if it wasn’t already. I just wasn’t looking forward to that conversation.
    Murphy grabbed his own food, handed a container to Chris, and settled between Chris and me, like a parent dealing with unruly children. I rolled my eyes. “So how much longer do I have to stay here?”
    “Anxious to get somewhere?” Chris asked, coldly.
    “Yeah, somewhere with Netflix,” I shot back. “Do you know what it feels like? To have your freedom ripped away from you?” I glanced at both of them. Chris avoided my eyes, but Murphy… his made me feel naked. “I don’t think you guys get it. I don’t think that you could.”
    “Tell me about it.” Murphy’s words weren’t a command, but it was so much like one I just obeyed without thinking.
    “A week ago, I had a boyfriend, a gorgeous house, a fantastic expense account. One night, I see Devyn with Alex’s sister, and now I’ve lost everything. Do you know how that feels?” From the look on their faces, I guessed not. “And now I’m here, and I can’t leave. I miss my life. It’s only been a couple of days, and I’m going crazy here.”
    Murphy looked back at Chris, and something passed between them. They were always doing that. It was like some sort of psychic SEAL connection between the two of them, except that they’d done it all our lives. I tossed the half empty box of food on the coffee table and stood up to leave.
    “Where are you going?”
    “To my room.”
    “You’re not done eating.” Murphy’s tone left no room argue, but I was done being Ms. Obedient.
    “Not hungry,” I lied.
    “Yes, you are.”
    I growled, my irritation growing with the man. His mouth turned up in a slow smirk.
    “Come sit back down.”
    “No.”
    “Will you please come sit back down and eat?”
    He always did that. He’d be all commanding, and then suddenly, he’d pull out something nice like that question. I glanced at Chris, who took a bite of his food and wisely remained silent.
    “Addison?” God I liked my name on his lips. I wanted to hear it again.
    “I…” I trailed off because I had no idea what I’d been about to say. “I can’t.”
    Murphy punched Chris in the leg. Chris grunted and yelled, “Hey! What the fuck was that for?”
    “For being an asshole. Now apologize.”
    “I didn’t—” Chris growled but didn’t finish the sentence. “Fine. I’m sorry.”
    “To her.”
    Chris glared at Murphy. “You’re serious? You want me to apologize to Addison?” His tone of voice made it sound like that was the most ridiculous thing in the entire world.
    “Yes. She’s the one that’s been displaced from home here.” His pointed look made Chris frown.
    Chris rolled his eyes. “Fine. Addison, I’m sorry.” He stood up, grabbed his food, and added, “I’m out. I’ll eat up at the watch station.” He didn’t wait for a reply, just turned and left the room, food in hand.
    The door slammed shut, the metal reverberating through the entire lounge area.
    ~*~*~
    Several moments of silence passed before Murphy said anything. “You don’t have