How did we get here? From threats to... I don’t even know what to call this. Flirting?
I don’t think so.
Whatever it is, it’s maddening and infuriating, but also so exciting there’s a wet patch of lace between my legs. My mind skips forward, imagining things that won’t ever happen...
His long fingers in my hair, his lips on mine, his tongue teasing and tasting, that big body pinning me down to show me heights of pleasure I never dreamt about.
I pinch my lips, meeting his gaze with a shred of calmness, but before words come, we both turn at the sound of footsteps.
“Hailey.” Jensen stops mid-step, his gaze faltering as it idles between me and... whatever the Brute’s name is. “I’ve been looking all over the place for you,” he adds slowly. “You okay?”
“I’m fine, I was about to head back.” I push off the ground, eager to leave while I have the chance before I end up doing something I’ll regret.
Or worse... something Iwon’t.
But as I make the move, bracing my healthy arm against the wood, a vice-like grip cuffs my wrist, pulling me back.
“Nash,” the Brute offers, leaning in so only I hear him, his warm breath whispering against my ear. “You’re quick to judge my manners but you haven’t even asked my name.”
“Nash,” I repeat, steeling myself against the goosebump-raising shivers. “Can’t call it a pleasure. Now... I’d appreciate it if you’d let me go.”
Lies. Filthy lies. I don’t want him to let go, but I wrench my arm free, a surge of emotions battling within. Anger, confusion, pinching fear, and that undeniable, sparkling excitement.
“Alex! Don’t do it!” someone shouts in the distance, the plea followed by a loud splash.
I can’t focus on what else the hysterical girl nearby is yelling. The lake fades and I’m back in the same room I saw minutes ago when Jensen called mespecial. I’m back in the maze of my lost memories with the blond man.
The past rushes in, simultaneously mine and utterly foreign.
“Alex! Don’t do it!”comes again, but this time fromme. I’m moving in the memory, rising from the bed.
Whose bed is that? Mine? His? I don’t know. I can’t see any details. The walls are a blur. Only the man before me—Alex—is sharp, as if I’m looking at him through a single-point focus lens.
He stands with his back to me again, the muscles of his squared shoulders coiling like a loaded spring, hands in fists.
He’s angry.Furious. Emotions radiate off him in warm waves and my heart gallops faster than a frightened horse.
“You can’t stop me,”he barks out, making me jerk back as he spins to face me, his features distorted.
“You’re going to get killed. Please... you need to stop, it isn’t worth—”
“She’s worth EVERYTHING!”he bellows, spit flying from his mouth.
I can make out blue eyes teeming with desperate rage. Bushy eyebrows bent in a deep frown that feels so familiar.
“Hailey.” Nash’s low voice breaks through the memory.
He wants my attention, but the past holds me captive. It’s too strong. I’m trapped in quicksand, sinking deeper and deeper, further away from reality.
“Fuck, Hailey!”Alex snaps, taking a few threatening steps forward.“You shouldn’t even know what I’m doing! We’re all fucking dead if I don’t finish the job! I’m trying to protect you too!”
“I don’t want you to get hurt,”I say. I think I’m crying.“If... if you don’t drop this, I’ll tell Dad. You’re too involved with her, you—”
“You won’t!”he snarls, closing the distance between us.“You know that’ll get me off the case.”He grips my throat, digging his fingers so hard I start choking.“Breathe one fucking word to Charlie and I promise you’ll regret it.”
“Hailey!” Nash’s voice pierces the fog again. “Hey, look at me. You need to snap out of it.”
The urgency in his tone drags me half back to reality. The chilly evening air kisses my face but there’s more substance to Alex’s fingers circling my throat. I stare into his blue eyes, my heart triphammering against my ribs.
