My blood.
You cannot relinquish the seal of your garden. Once it’s gone, it’s gone. You will become a whore so unclean that you won’t be worthy to enter the Holy of Holies and gaze upon the Ark of the Covenant.
Oh God. What have I done?
My voice is barely audible. “I’m unclean.”
“What?” Rory places his hand over my palm, but I move out of his reach, scrambling to the opposite end of the couch.
I can’t let my transgression corrupt him.
My eyes finally meet Rory’s as they squint in concern. “Are you hurt?”
“I have to go.” I swipe my shoes and purse, darting for the exit.
“Wait!”
Ignoring Rory’s shouts, I open the door, thankfully unlocked, and sprint down the narrow hall.
“What the fuck did you do to her? What happened?”
When I get to the second door that leads to the VIP area, I glance back and find a shirtless Rory arguing with…Luke?
Luke’s lips are curled back in a snarl as he pokes Rory in the chest. Rory looks back at him with the same fury.
When did Luke get here? Did he see…
I don’t want to think about what this could mean. I’ll fall apart right here, and I’m barely holding it together as it is.
Simultaneously, they turn their heads in my direction. Rory’s eyes go wide, and Luke’s mouth pulls into a frown. When they move for me, my feet start to move again.
The humid, warm air of the club hits me in the face along with the blaring music. Sprinting through the VIP area and down the stairs, I set aside the thought of what could possibly be on the floor and touching my bare feet.
I shove patrons aside as I cross the main floor. Shouts of frustration and surprise are drowned out by the booming bass.
After angering almost every person in Onyx, I make it outside. The cool air is a shock to my system, but I don’t let it slow me down. A taxi is on the verge of pulling away from the curb, and I make it to the rear door before it integrates itself with the flow of traffic.
Knocking on the window, the cab driver brakes and lets me in.
“Where to?” she asks.
“Brooklyn.”
I’m finally able to catch my breath, but I don’t dare look behind me. I don’t want to see the look on their faces.
I finally did it. I had sex, and it was amazing.
But my father found his way into my head and ruined it all.
Just like he always does.
CHAPTER 15
HUNTER
Refilling my coffee for the fifth time, I stare at my laptop on the kitchen counter. It’s one in the morning, and I’m no closer to being done sifting through all this data than I was six hours ago.
Placing my mug on the counter, I interlock my fingers at the base of my neck and tip my head back toward the ceiling.
