Tempted Trapped and Too Late to Run

Chapter 568

Clara was running on empty. Just getting Dylan upstairs had wiped her out, and now she could barely catch her breath.

"What are you talking about?" she snapped.

Nicholas hovered at the edge of the bed, ready to yank her away. But before he could, Jackson stepped up and put a steady hand on Nicholas's shoulder.

Nicholas, already agitated, spun around. "Are you stopping me right now? Did you not see what Clara's up to? She's totally making a move on Dylan. The guy's ridiculously good-looking-she probably thinks he married her because he actually likes her."

Jackson didn't even bother arguing. He just grabbed a clean tissue from the nightstand and stuffed it straight into Nicholas's mouth.

"Enough. Give it a rest," he said.

Nicholas spat the tissue out, glaring. Something felt off-weren't he and Jackson supposed to be on the same side here? Why did it suddenly feel like Jackson was defending Clara?

Before he could say a word, Jackson dragged him away from the bed. Then, with an icy glance at Clara, he said, "Since you're so eager to take care of Dylan, have at it. But if anything goes wrong, you're taking the fall."

Clara stared at them in disbelief. "Seriously? A little help here would be nice! Changing bandages isn't exactly a one-person job."

Nicholas tried to step forward again, but Jackson yanked him back.

Nicholas finally lost it. "What is wrong with you? Have you lost your mind?"

Jackson rubbed his temples, clearly done with the whole scene. He shoved Nicholas out the door, tossed a quick, "We'll check on Dylan later," over his shoulder at Clara, and disappeared downstairs with Nicholas in tow.

even call after them,

His head had slumped quietly onto her shoulder, suddenly looking

was exhausting. She'd thought having backup would help but apparently, she

sigh, Clara picked up the gauze and got back to work. Her fingers brushed against Dylan's bare skin, sticky with blood and crisscrossed with fresh wounds. She noticed him flinch ever

had she picked a fight while he was hurt? She could've

forth, restless and uneasy. He was convinced Clara had

head over

knew that.

no way she'd actually fall for Dylan. Dylan must have married her for revenge, that was the only explanation. Now that he was unconscious,

stretching out

minutes, Nicholas glanced up at the stairs, worry etched all over his face. "Are we really not going to check

but he was also the most

grabbed an apple off the table, took a bite,

answered, frowning. Why wasn't Aiden

guy everyone trusted. But now, when Dylan actually

"If Aiden's not worried, why are you?

had the energy to flirt earlier,

couldn't shake the feeling that he'd just played wingman for someone else's little love drama upstairs-and he

was totally oblivious,

orders. Jackson said not to go upstairs,

two of them on the couch and