My mouth opened, ready to spit another accusation, open another wound, but the words never made it out. Because Jay’s hand slammed against the wall beside my head, his other still on my throat, and his mouth crashed down on mine.
It wasn’t a kiss. It was a collision. Fury, pain, and years of silence exploded all at once. His lips were hard, punishing, desperate, like he hated me for being there, for forcing this out of him.
And what was worse? I kissed him back.
For one wild second, all I felt was heat—his stubble scraping my skin, his hand pinning me in place, the taste of blood and whiskey and something I couldn’t place but had wanted since I was eighteen.
Then reality slammed back in. He’d kissed me instead of answering, instead of giving me the truth about Caleb.
I shoved him away, my breath ragged, heart hammering against my ribs. His eyes were still burning, lips swollen, chest heaving.
“Don’t ever—” My voice cracked, but I forced it steady. “Don’t ever use Caleb’s name as an excuse again.”
I turned and stormed out, leaving him standing there with the taste of me still on his lips and the blood of his brother splashed across his fists.
The second the door slammed behind me, I pressed my back to the wall, relishing the cool night air and sucked in a breath like I’d been drowning.
What the hell had just happened?
I touched my lips, furious at the way they tingled. Furious at myself for letting him close.
I wasn’t here for him. I wasn’t eighteen anymore, with stars in my eyes and a crush I couldn’t kill. I was here for Caleb and for the truth.
But the worst part?
For one reckless heartbeat, I’d forgotten Caleb was dead at all, and that was unforgivable.
Chapter 12
Reaper
“Get him out of here,” I yelled, not turning to see if they were following my orders. I could hear the prospect whimpering as they took him to the medical room. I stalked out the room and up to my bedroom. Most brothers had rooms on the main floor, but mine was upstairs, more like an apartment than a room. I scrubbed a hand down my face, the taste of Lucy still burning in my mouth.
Fuck.
That wasn’t supposed to happen. She was supposed to scream at me, walk away, hate me enough to keep herself safe. Not kiss me back like she wanted it just as bad.
I could still feel the fight in her, the way she pushed back against me like no one else dared.
But she was Caleb’s little sister, off-limits since the day he first patched in. Now Caleb was gone, and the only way I knew how to keep her alive was to make sure I never touched her again.
Even if my body hadn’t gotten the memo. I’d enjoyed the kiss, and my whole body still thrummed with the feel of her lips against mine.
The door creaked behind me.
Riot.
He leaned in the doorway, arms folded, shades hanging from his collar. He didn’t say a word until I finally looked up, chest still heaving, knuckles bruised.
“You’re slipping, Pres.” His voice was steady, stating a fact.
“I handled it.”
“You kissed her.” His chin tipped. “In front of the sharks. That ain’t handling it. That’s blood in the water.”
My jaw locked. “It was a mistake.”
He shook his head slow. “Bullshit. You’ve been circling her since the funeral. Everyone sees it. Gabby’s already sharpening her claws, and Gage will twist it ‘til it breaks you.”
