I shrug and stretch my arms high before folding them behind my head, not a care in the world. “Just gave me opportunities to get better.”
“Nothing could crush this boy’s spirit.” Rory spits, grinding against me, and it’s definitely not a semi anymore. “Not even two years of hell from me.”
Briella gets a little more curious, climbing off Jude and crawling toward us. My breath hitches in my chest when she combs her fingers through my hair and rubs her pretty lips along my forehead. “So, what happened?”
“Local gang near the group home.” I turn all my attention to our little Queen. “The one night I went over the wall, hoping to get some change of pace. Got beat up pretty bad for being on their turf. And I?—”
“And the crazy lad showed up on my doorstep, myroomall bleeding, bruised, and busted up,” Rory cuts in.
I look up at my partner, knowing he doesn’t have the same feelings for me as I do for him. Not in his blood and bones. Sociopathy doesn’t have a cure. But he’s pretty high functioning. Yeah, he hates the word, but it’s still true. And like he said, he’s got a heart under all that. Black and rotten and fucked up, but it’s all mine. And Briella’s now, too.
In any case, he needs me. Probably because I’m the only one who can take a double dose of his BS. Just like I did way back then. Not because I’m patient. But because I just don’t give a fuck. Guess I’m a glutton for punishment. Or maybe I got nothing but fun in my blood.
“What did you do?” she asks, focusing on him now.
“Called Jude first.” Rory jerks his head to the doctor. “He was the best in the group home with first aid. And me? I grabbed every knife I’d ever stolen and stashed away in my bed.” She grins like she knows where this is going. Not too hard to predict. “I tracked down those mother fuckers who fucked with my wood boy and made sure they knew onlyIget to bully my Lad.”
“How old were you two?”
She reaches out to thumb his beard, and his whole jaw clenches. I give him a shit-eating grin cause his beast just got beastier.
“Sixteen,” I say.
“From then on, he wasmine, weren’t you, wood boy?” he growls and reaches down to grab my balls.
“IfYEsay so,” I quip, paling a little because a grab to the balls is still a grab to the balls.
He snorts. “Nothing much has changed as ye can see for yourself.”
“Except I got more muscles than you.” I wink.
“Tell that tomywood, boy.”
Briella giggles, kisses his cheek, then turns to our alpha. “Whose turn is it now?”
“I go last,” Raphael states, then gestures to Vincent. “He goes after Jude.”
“Okay…” Briella turns to Vincent, and judging by her more relaxed form, I think she’s going for a dare. Seems more comfortable instead of sharing.
Vincent cracks his neck from one side to the other, and then heaves a sigh. “Truth or Dare, Girly.”
She presses her lips, tugging up with mischief. “Dare.”
Vincent turns to Jude, and the doctor nods. Hmm…color me curious. But I’ve got a pretty good idea of what he’s got in store. “Are you sure, Briella?” Vincent double-checks.
She purses her lips but ultimately nods.
“Very well.” Jude slaps his thighs and rises to a stand. “This dare will involve thethreeof us. Vincent spoke with me shortly after Raphael announced the game.” Jude inclines his head to the tattooed denial machine.
Vincent tenses, lowering his chin. The shadows grow around his face as locks of hair fall over his cheeks.
I know that gleam in Jude’s eyes when he lowers his hand to Briella. She takes it with trembling fingers.
Oh, this is gonna be good.
She peers behind Jude’s shoulder to peek at Vincent until the good doctor takes her chin and lifts her face to his. It’s a stretch, given how tall he is. And suddenly, she’s riveted. “Tonight? Vincent and I become official partners.”
She parts her lips, swallowing a knot in her throat. Emotional one. Not fear.
