Page 58 of Depraved

“Easy for you to say.” I wiped tears from my cheek with the back of my hand. “It’s not your life hanging in the balance.”

“Are you kidding me?” Onyx’s brows almost touched his hairline. “You think my life ain’t in danger here? You think none of our lives are in danger?” His face turned to stone as he approached me. “Our lives are in danger every goddamn day. Every time we walk out these motherfucking doors, we don’t know whether it will be our last.”

“That’s your choice.” I clenched my jaw. “Me being here is not my choice.”

“You think it’s a choice? Newsflash, Miss Green. We’re just playing the cards we got dealt, just like everyone else in this wretched world. And this club is all we got. The only family we got.”

I bit my lip, not liking what I was hearing. Even though I believed we were the makers of our own fate, I was in no position to judge. Not with me dancing to my mom’s tune—pun intended.

Onyx stared at me, a grave expression on his face paired with an unnatural stillness. Granite told me his reason for taking me, said I was his to take. But something told me there was more to it than mere obsession. Especially after Onyx gave me the impression something more was going on. Perhaps, apart from being Granite’s girl in the window, I was a bargaining chip as well. Collateral. Something to be used for personal gain in the sordid games played in the underground of this city. Truth was, I had no idea how ruthless these motorcycle clubs could be, so I could not put anything past them. But one thing I was sure of, there was no way Granite was taking me back to my life. Not until he had taken from me what he wanted. I might have been scared and desperate, but I wasn’t stupid. It was written all over Granite’s face whenever he looked at me. The promise was right there in his touch earlier, the vow made when he pressed his lips against mine.

“Your brother is not planning on letting me go. Even after you’ve used me for whatever reason…I’m not going anywhere. Not until he’s used me for his own personal reasons.”

One of his eyebrows slanted inward. “You seem sure of that.”

“I am.”

“How?”

I licked my lips, the saltiness of my tears coating my tongue. “I just know.”

“You’re wrong.”

“No.” I shook my head. “I’m not wrong. You’ll see.”

The sky-blue of his eyes turned a shade darker, his face hard. But I refused to look at him any longer and turned my back on him. For a while, we stood there in silence, and it surprised me that Onyx didn’t leave. He had no reason to stay. No reason to stick around in the room with me. But he did.

“Alyx, the only reason we took you⁠—”

“Kidnapped.” I glanced at him over my shoulder. “I believe that’s the word you should use.” The animosity dripped from my words, and right then I didn’t care. My body was drained, my mind weary. And Onyx didn’t intimidate me the way Granite did. I felt more in control around Onyx, more confident, and that finally led me to this point where I just didn’t give a fuck anymore. Not around him, anyway.

I heard him exhale. Then footsteps. “Granite said to make sure you get something to eat. I knew you wouldn’t be hungry, but I brought you something anyway. I’ll just leave it here for you.”

My tears had stopped, the lingering wetness starting to dry on my cheeks. “You know so much about my life. Even my fucking eating habits.” Finally, I turned to face him where he stood, a few feet away from the door. “It seems the American Street Kings interfered with my life long before you kidnapped me.”

“I’m sorry, Alyx. I know we’re not the good guys here, but we’ve never interfered with your life…until now.”

For a moment, I studied him, trying to figure out exactly what angle he was trying to work. Now, I was no people expert, or even close to a goddamn profiler—but Onyx wasn’t showing any sign that he was currently trying to pull off some bullshit act.

I leaned back, surprised yet still uncertain. “Your brother made himself a part of my life years ago without me even knowing.”

Onyx didn’t respond.

I weaved my fingers through my hair, ruining the ponytail I had just tied ten minutes ago. “You and Neon keep telling me nothing is as it seems. Well, maybe you’re the ones who should take a better look.”

He bit his bottom lip, eyes weary, and his hands deep inside his pants pockets. “Get some rest, Alyx.” He left, locking the door behind him.

The sound of the lock became more and more familiar, and less noticeable. This room was starting to blend into my world. Their faces too—Onyx and Neon. But not Granite. Not his face. The man was an enigma, a paradox not meant to fade. Not in my world, anyway.

Alone, standing in the center of the room, I looked at the side table next to the bed. It was a diet Pepsi he left for me. He knew I wouldn’t eat, and I knew the diet Pepsi was a way for him to crack a joke about it. At least he wasn’t making such a big deal about what I ate.

“God,” I cursed, smiling, yet feeling fucking miserable.

Falling down on the bed like nothing but a sack of meat, I closed my eyes. My stomach felt heavy, my skin clammy, yet cold. There was no telling what tomorrow held in store for me, but if the dread that hugged my insides was anything to go by…it wouldn’t be anything good.

CHAPTER NINETEEN

GRANITE