AllFreeNovel
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The numbness flees as ice settles into my bones, and I shiver until a thin set of arms wraps around me. Glancing over, I see Posie there, a concerned look pinching her eyebrows together. I hold on to her, needing the anchor so I don’t drift away in my spiraling hysteria. Posie grounds me, and I take a deep, shaky breath as we follow the guys onto the shore.
“What the hell did we just do?” she whispers.
I shake my head, not sure if I have any words to explain how I’m feeling. Everything is just so fucked up.
It’s funny how a matter of minutes can change the trajectory of your entire life. How it can change you as a person.
“Where the hell are we going?” Eloise snaps, her own eyes wide in fear. She clutches her chest, and I know the chill runs deep.
Vienna walks up to Creed. “This is fucked up, babe. We’re going to bury a body?”
Creed scowls, his hand slapping over her mouth. “Keep your mouth shut, V. Just follow us.”
Water drips down our bodies as we make it out of the water, walking up the rocky beach and toward the parking lot.
We look around as we head to our cars, and Archer shifts Zane’s body higher up onto his shoulder as he bends to the side, his hand digging into his pocket as he grabs his keys. He pops his trunk, and with a shove, he drops Zane inside with a thump that has my stomach twisting. The sound of dead limbs slapping together unnaturally is worse than nails on a chalkboard.
Lifting his gaze to us, he wipes his bloody, wet hands on his pants, as if he just got finished with a hard day at work.
I shiver again.
“Maybe we should go to the cops? Or our parents?” I croak, knowing it’s the last thing we’ll do, but desperate for my soul to not be tainted black.
Archer’s body stiffens, and in a flash, he strides up to me, grabbing onto me before I can react. Hauling my body against his, he growls, “You aren’t going to say a fucking thing, you want to know why?” He glares at each of us. “You’re all at fault. You each are just as much a part of this as we are.”
I swallow over the lump in my throat.
He smiles, and the dark Archer comes out, dangerous, a little depraved. “You’re all a part of it. You were all here. None of you did anything to stop it. You watched him die. You put your hands on him. You saw the life leave his eyes. If one of us goes down, every single one of us is going down. Do you want that? You want to ruin our fucking lives, Lakyn?” His eyes spear mine, cementing me in place.
I shake my head, my insides trembling while my exterior is absolute stone.
He narrows his eyes. “Then help me bury his fucking body and quit bitching.” He lets go of me, stalking back to his car. At the last moment, he spins around, his eyes clashing with mine once more. “And don’t forget, baby, exactly what it was he was after. Don’t feel bad for a fucking bastard like that who only wants to see you hurt. He’s lucky we gave him such an easy death.”
I watch him, and slowly, I nod, knowing he’s right.
Who I am, what I stand for, whatwestand for… he was a fool to think he could get away with it. And though I feel fucking turned upside down right now, I know my boys would never allow anyone to hurt me. They will protect me for eternity.
My eyes flick to Zane’s, glancing at his pale skin, his blue lips, his clothes and face that are stained with blood. Then the trunk shuts, encasing him in the darkness.
Everyone is silent, not saying a word as we make our way to our cars.
I wipe my damp face, just as a strong set of fingers wrap around the back of my neck, and I’m hauled against Archer’s front. He spins me around, his dark lashes resting against his sharp cheekbones. His black shirt looks like liquid as it molds to his form. His hand goes forward, brushing along my jaw. “You know the real reason I brought Zane here tonight?”
I clench my jaw, tears springing to my eyes. I love him and hate him. He protects me, and he’ll always keep me close, as his.
Before the tears have a chance to fall from my chin, he’s brushing them away. He leans forward an inch, and I swallow through the complex emotions of our relationship, a combination that has me slipping away from myself and becoming someone totally different. I’m not myself when I’m with him.
I’m his.
I’m theirs.
We all are.
“Because he fucked with you, and no one fucks you over, Lake. Not anyone.” His free hand drops to my uncovered waist, his fingers warm, even though they were submerged in the ocean for so long. He squeezes tight, and I want to fight against him. I want to drown him, but there’s a hint of a flutter in my chest at his nearness, at his protectiveness.
These guys have always been protective of us, murderous when someone even comes close. We’re a rule, even if it’s not a written one.
Don’t fuck with their women.
