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Surprise hits me first, my heart thumping in my chest at him seeking me out outside of his daily visits and my stomach pitching at his affectionate name for me.
Want hits me next. It’s partly physical desire as lust surges in my veins at how handsome he looks standing there waiting for me, his presence commanding the space and his trademark smirk in place.
But it’s emotional want as well. I’d like nothing more than to wrap my arms around him and have him comfort me so I can forget the last few days.
God, I love him so much. It’s so unfair.
“Hey,” I say, walking up to him. “What are you doing here?”
“Rogue told me you wanted to ask me something.”
That traitor. I’d known he’d speak to Rhys about our conversation but I didn’t think he’d narc that quickly.
“And I wanted to see you.”
Raw honesty sounds in his voice as he raises a hand to brush back a strand of hair from my face before thinking better of it. His hand drops and fists at his side, as if he has to physically work to restrain himself from touching me.
“Devlin dropped out.”
His jaw ticks.
“I heard,” he says, revealing nothing.
“Did you have something to do with it?”
“Yes.”
I’m momentarily thrown off by his reply. I’d half expected him to deny it. “Oh. I didn’t think you’d answer me honestly.”
“I told you I wouldn’t keep anything else from you.”
I swallow around the weight in my throat as I think about what else I want to ask him. “Did you hurt him?”
His voice is unflinching when he answers. “Yes.”
“Badly?”
“Yes.”
“Do I want to know how?”
“No.”
He answers each question unemotionally and matter of factly like I’m asking him whether he likes brussel sprouts or not and not whether he hurt someone.
“Why’d you do it? Because he revealed your secret?”
“No,” he answers, this time through clenched teeth. “I should have dealt with him a long time ago. That’s the other mistake I made; letting him get so comfortable that he felt safe enough to put his hands on you. He’ll never touch you again now.”
My stomach roils thinking about what Rhys probably did to him. I doubt he gave him a slap on the wrist and sent him on his way. But he’s right, I don’t want to know what he did to him. Except…
“Is he alive?”
My interest is purely for Rhys’ benefit. I remember Phoenix’s words at Devlin’s house. I don’t want Rhys killing anyone, especially not for me.
“Yes.”
I nod and turn away, starting to pack up my things.
