“Well…”
“Jett, I ain’t got no time for your games.” He takes one step forward, dragging me behind.
It doesn’t escape me that he’s keeping me at a safe distance from his brother.
“Hold on.” Jett flattens a hand against Knox’s chest.
Knox could snap his brother’s wrist. He doesn’t.
He chooses mercy, glowering at him. “What?”
Tension hums in the silence between them, thick enough to choke on.
That’s not the only source of violent energy surrounding us, though. Beneath our feet, commotion stirs. Scraping furniture, distant shouting.
The basement is coming alive.
We’re not too early, apparently.
Damn Jett. Why won’t he just take us there and get it over with?
“You’re not done answering my questions.” Ah, that’s why. This sadist, suspicious fuck with his creepy-ass smile. Somehow it stretches wider as he tilts his head to study me. Then his attention is back on Knox, one eyebrow lifted. “Are you, Hide-boy?”
Hide-boy.
Motherfucker.
I bite the inside of my cheek so hard that the skin breaks. Blood dribbles into my mouth, iron soaking my tongue.
I’m pure aggression. Feverish hate.
Knox senses my barely restrained rage, tightening his grip on my neck, silencing me. “I told you?—”
“Her schedule. Heard you the first time.” Jett throws me another look before grinning at Knox. “Except I don’t give a fuck. I toldyouthat you and I aren’t done here, and I meant it. You’re not stepping foot inside until you tell me what the hell this is. Why you gave her a living-hide mask. The one thing you worshipmore than your routine. Does she mean something to you? Are you turning your back on your family? Huh? Huh?”
Bastard. He must be hoping the answer will give him an excuse to hurt Knox.
This isn’t about power.
He’s just a violent piece of shit.
I want to strangle him. To claw his eyes out.
All I can think about is protecting my man. He’s never asked for it. He certainly doesn’t need it.
And yet here I am, desperate to kill for him.
My possessiveness burns through me. Crushing me.
No matter what they do, you stay quiet, Trouble.
I promised. Dammit.
“You think it’s love? Letting a living-hide wear an old, used mask? Bringing her here to watch her sister get tortured?” Knox’s voice is flat, almost bored. “I’m humiliating her, you fucker. You want to fight me over that too?”
“I-I—” This is the first time I’ve heard Jett stutter.
“She hates it so much she couldn’t stop screaming. Not anymore. Her mouth’s sewn shut and?—”
