She says something to Jenks, and my eyes fall on her once again. She’s dressed in one of my black hoodies, black skinny jeans, and black boots. Her bleach-blond hair is up in a messy bun, and she’s pushed her sunglasses to sit on top of her head.
We’re having dinner at our parents’ house next weekend. Raylee said by then she should be able to cover up what’s left of the bruising with makeup. I’ve decided I’m going to tell them about us. She doesn’t know it, and she may get mad at me, but I don’t care. I’ve kept her a secret long enough. I want to be the man she deserves, and that’s someone who is proud to love her. And if anyone disagrees with us being together, then fuck them. Her feelings are the only ones that matter to me.
RAYLEE
I TURN, LOOKINGover my shoulder to see Colt talking to Finn. They look to be in a deep conversation. Their words are too hushed for me to hear what it’s about.
I’ve been pushing him more and more every day over the past week. More so than I ever have before. I think he really wants to kill me, but I’m not going to let up on him.
I love him, and he loves me.
I never expected my love to match my hatred for him. I thought the game of who can destroy the other was what would do us in.But love?That’s the deadliest kind of drug. I realized that day in his room after we got back from the Cathedral that his love for me can force him to do things against his will.
It gives me more power than I ever had.
Apart, we were our own worst enemy, but together? We’re explosive. An unbeatable team.
I haven’t apologized for setting his car on fire, and I never will. The stupid bastard should have never recorded us, let alone shared it on social media. Plus, I’m sure he’ll piss me off at some point, and I’ll set something else of his on fire.
“Have you spoken to Raven?” I ask Alex, placing my attention back on him.
He shakes his head. “Nope. She won’t answer my phone calls or return my texts.”
I’ll text her tomorrow.I’ve stayed hidden at the house with Colt. I haven’t even seen Tatum. Not until the stitches are out of my face and the bruises are faded more. Not wanting to have to talk about what happened. I want to move on. And it’ll be harder if I have to talk about it every day.
I feel a set of hands on my shoulders, and I jump. “Ready?” Colt whispers in my ear from behind me.
I nod, thankful he doesn’t acknowledge my unease. What Nate took from me isn’t going to return overnight, but I’m determined to move on and not let that fucker control my life. Right now, I feel good. It’s been a long week, but I’m healing. Like Colt said—one day at a time.
Colt kisses my cheek, and I feel him pull away, stepping back. Letting me know I can do this on my own, but all I have to do is say the word, and he’ll take over for me.
A man who I now know by the name of Tyson walks into my line of sight. I sat down with him, Colt, and the guys a couple of nights ago in his office at his club Blackout. Colt told me I could ask whatever I wanted, and they would answer it. I learned that night that I had been living with four men who have very dark secrets. It should have made me run away from him, but instead, it made me love Colt even more. Nothing about our past together has ever not been complicated. Besides, Colt has seen me at my worst, and he still chose me. I’ll always choose him too. No matter what he does.
“Here you go,” Tyson announces, dragging Mike behind him by the rope that is wrapped around his wrists. He’s got duct tape wrapped all the way around his mouth and head, like Nate did to me.
Tyson brings him to a tree and throws the rope over a limb before tying it off, securing Mike to it with his hands above his head. His shoes barely touch the ground.
Finn steps in front of me with a smirk playing on his lips. “Give him hell, Ray.” He holds out a Paslode XP nail gun. The same one I used on Nate. He gave me a crash course on it a few days ago. Turns out, the damn thing has some kind of safety. And it only shoots nails when it’s pressed up against the target. Or you can pull the slide back. But I didn’t have that luxury with my wrists tied together. I didn’t know what I did to make it work last time. I’m just glad I know how to work it now. Winking at me, he adds, “I’ve been charging it for you. It’s loaded with fifty nails. Ready for you to use. And I brought plenty more.” He nods to his backpack on the ground by his feet.
The sound of Mike screaming behind his gag makes me smile. “Thanks, Finn.”
I take it in my hands, and it seems even heavier than that day at Mike’s. My heart is racing but not like it was then. This is a different kind of adrenaline. There’s a calmness when it comes to revenge. I know what I’m doing isn’t any better than him, but I just don’t give a fuck.
I’ve always had that kind of attitude, but now I only care about one thing—Colt. He allows me to pull him into the darkness so I can bathe in the light. And I do the same for him.
But Mike deserves to know what it feels like to be helpless. To have no hope of anyone coming to save him. To be humiliated.
“Hey, Finn?” I turn to face him on my right. He’s the closest to me. Everyone else stands behind us.
“Yeah, gorgeous?” he asks.
“Do you have your pocketknife on you?”
“Always.” He pulls it from his pocket and flips it open. “Want to carve him up first?”
I shake my head. “Will you remove his shirt?”
Mike starts thrashing, twisting his body around and kicking his legs out, forcing me to take a step back so they don’t hit me. Finn punches him in the stomach, making him hunch over the best he can with his hands tied above his head. Then Finn starts cutting the T-shirt off his body. Once done, he closes the knife. “All yours.”
