AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Shit,” Gage grumbled, shooting forward.
I turned my head, seeing Rynn stumble into the room. Her eyes fell on me, and I caught a small flash of relief before her face filled with surprise when her gaze went to my back. Gage stepped in front of her, blocking my view, and I bit my tongue to keep from saying anything. I would talk to her when I wasn’t chained to a table and surrounded by guys who would no doubt rather see me dead.
Rynn attempted to move around Gage, but he snatched her arm, shaking his head in warning. Her icy glare cut to him, but she didn’t fight his hold. After one last look at me, she stepped back and leaned against the wall, crossing her arms.
“How much longer?” Gage asked, turning toward the table. “We need to get back to campus before Chris realizes he’s missing.”
“Twenty minutes,” the guy answered.
I kept my stare on Rynn, hoping I’d get a chance with her alone soon without Gage around. Because we had a lot to talk about.
26
“Here.”
I handed Jace a bag of ice for his swelling jaw before sitting on the opposite side of the couch from him. The silence was strained, just as it had been since Gage dropped us off at my dorm. He had to go back and talk to Ellie and convince her that what we’d done with Jace was the best thing. I was sure she was pissed. Giving Jace our ink…even I couldn’t believe Gage had done that.
Though it was the perfect way to make sure Jace didn’t tell anyone. It could easily be spun that Jace really was informing for us. Especially since he’d already been hiding the fact that I was the girl from that summer.
Jace was leaning forward slightly. No doubt his back was still sore from the tattoo. His lip was busted, and I didn’t miss all the redness and cuts on his body when he was getting tattooed. He had to be hurting. He kept the ice on his cheek while glancing at me.
“Gage told me that you’re the reason I’m still alive,” he murmured.
I turned on the couch cushion to face him and wrapped my arms around my knees. “Technically, I’m the reason you were there in the first place. I never should have had my hair up.”
“I wouldn’t have told Chris. Even if they hadn’t permanently branded me.”
“They couldn’t take that chance.”
His stare was unrelenting as I tried to guess what he was thinking. Did he hate me for what had happened tonight? He was stuck in the middle now because of me. He had no choice but to lie to his stepdad, and that could be a death sentence if Chris ever found out.
“Help me understand, Rynn.” He tossed the bagged ice onto the end table. “You look at me like you can’t stand me. You don’t trust me. Half the time, I’m convinced you hate me. But you care if I’m killed?”
My heart stuttered, and I took a while to finally answer. “I don’t want you dead.”
“Interesting,” he mused with a ghost of a smile. “Because I feel the same way.”
“The same way?” I repeated.
“I don’t want you dead, Rynn.” He slowly leaned back, resting against the cushions. “Is that really a surprise? I’ve already been lying to Chris to keep you safe.”
“But you don’t trust me,” I stated.
He frowned, eyeing me warily. “No, I don’t.”
“The Disciples won’t back down from Little Haven,” I stated, feeling knots grow in my stomach.
“I’m sure the Underground isn’t going away either.”
“We’ve always planned to take Little Haven.”
“Your loyalty is with them,” he said softly.
“It has been for years. Just like you’ll never go against the Disciples.”
“We’re on opposite sides. And it’s not going to change.”
I sighed. “I know.”
