I drop the shears on the table.
One finger buys me one more day.
That’s the lie I tell myself to sleep. Because I know his screams will follow me.
The water is scalding—just how I want it. I need to burn this day off me. I can still feel the weight of the shears in my hand. I know Jerod was punished for leaving a brother behind, but it’s my fault he was in this predicament in the first place.
I know Rory wants her revenge, and I want the same thing, but over the years I’ve grown slightly attached to the othermembers of the cult. There are many of us who went through training together. Even if you try to resist, the bond forms. Bleeds in. Stains you. I still want them all dead, but I allow myself to feel some guilt over them.
My phone dings from the counter just outside the shower, and I dry my hand to see who it is.
I’m walking into your house, don’t fucking shoot me.
Rory.I chuckle, toss the phone aside, and step under the spray.
She’s wise to text me beforehand. I’ve been known to pull a gun on her on multiple occasions.
“Where have you been for the past three days?” Her voice comes from the doorway.
“I’ve been busy,” I mumble, then say, “Cleaning up your mess as usual.”
I hear her scoff, then there’s a shuffling on the other side of the curtain. After a moment, the curtain moves, and a naked Rory steps into the shower with me.
“What do you mean cleaning up my messes?” She lowers the temperature so it isn’t so hot and then moves me out of the way so she can stand under it.
I’m so taken aback by what just happened, that my heart stills, and I just sit there, staring at her. This is my fucking shower… I was definitely here first…
She snaps her fingers in front of me. “Hello, earth to Ryven.”
I focus on her and smirk. “Just cleaning up after your latest mess—killing a cult member, as usual.” I finish running my hands through my hair to push the shampoo through it.
She raises her brow as she places her head under the water. “Don’t you meanourmess?”
I shake my head. “You killed the wrong guy, Ro.” I smirk, because of course she did.
She meets my eyes like she’d kill him again right now if she could. “There’s no such thing as a wrong guy, Ryven. We got a member, and that’s all that matters.”
I’m standing in a shower I used to wash blood off my hands.
Now she’s here, and all I want is to feel her against me instead.
Chapter 29
Rory
Ryven and his pretentious attitude is really pissing me off, acting like it’s all my fault, when he’s the one running this whole damn charade. I can’t help it two people showed up to the scene when there was only supposed to be one. Jennifer has been spiriling about it ever since. Telling me we can’t trust Ryven. That he set us up for failure.
I lather soap onto a washcloth and start scrubbing myself.
Ryven holds his hand out to me. “Let me do it.” His voice is low.Commanding. Dangerous.
I scrunch my nose. “Why? I’m perfectly capable of washing myself, thanks.”
He steps in, crowding me into the corner.Towering. Intense.“I said to let me do it, Ro. I want to feel you.” His tone isn’t up for debate.
His timbre—and the way he tugs—makes me drop the rag, and I melt a little against the wall. I came here for the sole purpose of getting laid. At least that’s what I tell myself.
I roll my eyes. “Fine.”
