Page 57 of Fractured Memories

“This is your fault,” I mutter to Eden like a child. But what can I say? She brings out a side of me I didn’t know existed.

I think I’ve done the same for her, too. Now that we are spending so much time together, I make her laugh constantly, and while we both still have a very twisted side we like to delve into together—the sex is incredible because of that—there’s something almost peaceful when I’m around her.

I’d dare say I’m actually happy for the first time in my life.

“My fault?” She scoffs. “How?”

“You were the one who said you could end your match faster with just one blade.”

Eden looks so damn smug. “And I was right.”

I glare at her because I have no argument there. It started off as a taunt from her, so I stole her challenge. She sat and watched me from my seat—only for me to find out after that she had stolen the challenge at the neighboring cage. And she did end hers faster than I did.

“By a second,” I finally mutter.

“Still faster,” Jude calls from the front seat, and I swear I see his lips twitch.

I lean forward, my tone sharp. “Whose side are you on?”

“Eden’s,” he answers easily.

She giggles behind me, and I huff. “You work for me.”

“That may be the case, but Mika loves her.” His eyes flick up to meet mine in the mirror, and he’s clearly fighting back laughter at my outrage. “I will always choose my wife over you.”

“Which means I’ve knocked you down another peg,” Eden teases.

I slam back in my seat as Jude pulls into the garage. “That’s treasonous. I should punish you both.”

“Do it.” Eden’s lips brush the shell of my ear. “We both know I’ll like it.”

I bite back a groan.

“Pants on!” Jude shouts as the car comes to a stop. Maybe I didn’t keep that sound as quiet as I thought.

Eden is still laughing as we step out of the vehicle, and I’m tempted to throw her arse over my shoulder and spend all night reminding her why she shouldn’t provoke me. Knowing her, she’d take it as a reason to push me harder next time.

Jude heads for the door that leads outside. The path leads down the other side of the mountain from where we just came up, and I assume he’s slipping off to his home for the night.

“Jude.” He pauses, raising a brow at me. “Go tell Rohan to fuck off for me.”

He chuckles and shakes his head, continuing in the opposite direction. “No.”

“You can’t tell me no.” I try to sound angry, but with Eden pressing a hand to her mouth to hold in her laughter, I can’t even pretend to be serious.

“I just did,” he says as he steps outside and the door swings shut behind him.

Jude never gets between Rohan, Lochlan, and me. He knows better, and when we’re up at the compound—at least away from Miles or his stupid fucking lackey—he has no problem giving me shite. I don’t mind it.

I’m sure if anyone outside our small group saw the way those three treat me, it would come as a shock. I have a reputation of putting a bullet through the skull of anyone that even thinks about crossing me. It’s mostly true, but Rohan, Lochlan, and Jude make sure I stay humble.

And now, Eden.

I turn on her, narrowing my eyes as she bites her lip, though it’s not enough to hide her smile. “He’s learned to be disrespectful from you.”

Her eyes widen as I pounce, fully intending on grabbing her, but she’s fast. She darts toward the door, shoving into the entryway. I can hear the softest giggles as I chase her down the hallway, and I know that I’ll catch her before she gets too much farther⁠—

If fucking Rohan wasn’t waiting around the corner with his arms crossed and a frown on his face. Lochlan stands a few feet behind him, staring in the opposite direction of us. Presumably where Eden went after they let her through. Bastards.