At my gaping mouth, he smirks. “I know you, girl. You and I went through the same shit.” He gestures to the space between us. “We don’t trust easily, and we sure as fuck don’t let just anyone touch us.”
Hayes is right—he might have had other partners before Collins, but they came with stipulations. Fully clothed, hands tied so they couldn’t touch his back, and never to speak again.
“Then, how do you know I haven’t slept with him?”
Gently, he elbows me. “Linwood annihilated you when he disappeared. But he’s the only one brave enough to breach your boundaries.” Hayes sits back, draining his glass. “Reese isn’t brave enough to attempt. And you don’t really want him.” He points to his eyes. “I see it—he’s just there. You don’t ever call him your boyfriend. He meansnothingto you.”
Fuck these men who apparently know me so well.
“So,” he drawls. “How was it?”
“Not having this conversation,” I say, holding up my hand. “And it’s not happening again.” It can’t.
“Uh-huh,” he agrees, nodding. “I’m sure Linwood feels the same.”
I give him a dry look.Bastard.
“I thought you were on my side,” I snap. “Not fist-pumping Linwood into getting back into my bed.”
“Was it even in your bed?” He wrinkles his nose, and I flip him off. He’s such an annoying brother sometimes.
“Fuck off.”
“And Iamon your side,” he clarifies. “But I’ve only ever seen you smile when you’re with him. The voices stop when he’s here.” I swallow against the reminder of how the Reaper seems to scare the past away. “I want what you want, Maeve. And if it’s him,” he grumbles quietly, “I’ll handle it. But if not? Let me at least kick his ass.”
“He might enjoy it,” I mutter. Glancing away, I gaze at the painting over the back of the couch. “I’m not letting him back in, Hayes. I won’t be strong enough if he walks away again.”
I won’t. When he left the first time, this family suffered. I couldn’t leave my bed, couldn’t pick Sloane out of the bushes and clean up the vomit from excessive partying. I couldn’t protect Collins or go to her award ceremonies. I barely answered Briar’s texts, and I only did after he threatened to expose himself.
The stakes are greater. The Board is coming after me, assassins are waiting, and with Bruno causing trouble, I can’t be distracted. I can’t let him break me—not again.
“You are the strongest woman alive,” he says, holding my hand. That small touch makes my skin crawl, but I don’t pull away. “Whether you want it or not, that man loves you the only way he knows how. And people are trying to take you away from him. He’s not going anywhere.”
Unfortunately, I think he’s closer to the truth than not.
“But seriously,” he lowers his voice. “How was it?”
Shoving him away, I crack a smile. “Go away.”
My door kicks in, and Killian strides in as if he owns it.Speak of the devil…
We both jump as if caught doing something wrong. He glares at Hayes, and the hitter rolls his eyes—good to know they’ve not lost their venom after Hayes became my second.
The Reaper throws his cell onto my desk, scattering papers. “We have a problem.”
My heart thumps once in my chest. “What happened?”
Collins rushes in, dressed in her scrubs. My brows knit. She’s supposed to be asleep—I have her schedule memorized. Her residency is grueling, but tonight she was off.
Holding up pink fingers, she pushes her foggy glasses further up her nose. Her cinnamon-brown strands are twisted on herhead, and her top is wrinkled. She looks thrown together, and my pulse increases. “I need help.”
I don’t think, rushing to follow as she scurries away. The men stay on my heels, Hayes calling to a few guards to keep watch. I don’t listen, keeping my eyes trained on Collins’ back, adrenaline causing my limbs to hum with nervous energy.
We pile into the basement, the ticking of the floors ringing in my ears. Everything is silent, breaths hushed. My fingers twitch as someone subtly touches my elbow.
I know it’s Killian. Mint wraps around me like a tight hug, and his touch burns through my silken blouse.
He bruised me, took from me, brought me to a pleasure I haven’t felt in years, and yet this touch? This touch strikes my heart like the icy hand of death, squeezing the light out.
