Page 14 of Ruthless Deliverance

I climb back through the window, my feet hitting the wood floor. “I don’t have any.”

She’s beyond pissed, her temper flaring brightly, but at least she’s stopped all the fuckin’ screaming. “Creed, you might not think you have anything to lose, but you do. And so does my brother. So stay the fuck away from here if you can’t control your shit.”

“I’m in control.” Why do I hear my mother’s voice calling me a liar? I am in control. Maybe the medication has some control over me in this moment, and I’m sure the alcohol might have a little too. But I’m in control … generally speaking. Even if I don’t want to be. Is that my problem? Too much control? Would it make a difference if I lost control so someone else could step up and fix the problem? Only, I don’t know what the fuck the problem is. Other than me. And Ethan. Ethan being gone is a problem. But no one can fix that.

“How’s the flying bird doing? Landed safely?” Felix calls out from the doorway. Dani right behind him as she makes her way over but stops a few feet from me. Clowns. Out of everything she could fear, that would have never crossed my mind.

Dani’s level of anger looks about on the same level as Luna’s, but I’m just getting started, and she already seems over it when she asks, “Are you always this fun at parties?”

“Oh, Creed’s a little juiced up. Come on, we can get on his level too, but let’s keep our feet on the ground.” Felix holds his elbow out to Dani.

Luna slaps his arm away. “Can y’all just leave her alone?”

“Yeah, Felix. Leave her be.”

“Shut up, Creed,” Luna yells at me, and damn, there goes the headache again.

“That’s a good idea,” Dani chimes in at a lower octave. Thankfully. But once she says, “I wouldn’t mind having a little fun,” my head damn near explodes. Because she said it to Felix.

“Like fuck you will.” All three of them freeze at my voice. When Felix looks to me, I let him hear it loud and clear. “She’s off-limits, stay the fuck away from her.”

His eyes widen a bit as he holds his hands in the air in surrender. “Didn’t know she was your girl, man.”

“Now you fucking do, so get lost.”

“I’m not his anything.” Dani shouts to Felix’s back, but he’s long gone, so she focuses on me. “You’re fucking delusional. We are not anything and never will be.”

“Let’s just go downstairs,” Luna huffs, moving to grab Dani’s arm.

“Leave.” I instruct Luna who dares to give me a questioning look. “Now. And shut the door behind you. Unless you want to test me.”

Luna’s fuming, but she quickly follows orders and hurries out, shutting the door behind her. Fear. That’s all it is. For herself. For her brother. It’s not the money, the drugs, or anything but fear that allows people to be controlled.

There’s tension in Dani’s posture, and she takes a few steps back, keeping her eyes on me. But I don’t see what I thought I would. Being trapped in this room alone with me, knowing I’m unhinged or …whatever, she’s on high alert yet exudes a calm control. “Are you scared?”

“Should I be?” Her response is agitated, but she still looks like she’s ready to pounce if I move an inch in the wrong direction, her direction.

“No. I don’t want to hurt you. The opposite in fact.” And every way I want to make her feel good runs through my mind. She doesn’t seem thrilled at my admission, but I’m determined to change that.

“I’ve already told you it’s not gonna happen.” Her voice is strong, unwavering, just like she is. And I appreciate that about her—except right now when she’s fighting against me.

Swiftly moving forward, I’m in front of her, my hands on either side of her, her back against the door. Something tells me she could move if she wanted to but chooses to stay put. Because I’m a tad bit dosed, I’m not at my best. But she is. “You’re really not scared, are you? Because you know you have control of this situation.”

“And you really don’t have a sense of right and wrong, do you? Because you seem to think the world is at your beck and call.”

“I’ll be at yours if you ask nicely.” Leaning forward, I move my lips within an inch of hers, tempted to close the distance, but I want to see how this plays out. Because even though my body has her blocked, she could get out of this spot if she wanted, that’s for damn sure.

“How about I ask nicely for you to back the fuck off so I can actually enjoy the party for a few minutes.”

“What’s not to enjoy in here?” Fuck, I want to taste her so bad.

“What are you on? Because it has to be some good shit.”

“I can give you a taste.” It’s not the taste I want to give her, but I’ll take what I can get right now. And my guess is I’d get a better high from her than any substance I could ever obtain.

“I’d rather get my own. So, point me in the direction.”

“They’re all out,” I lie. Because I don’t want her going to anyone else.