“Don’t got one. I was tryna find my sister and got taken by them cannibals.”
Huh, that was almost true.
“Shouldn’t you be kissin ass right now?”
“I could be bending you over––”
“You got bout three seconds to fix that sentence. Don’t give me any reasons to take Cali your balls in the form of a necklace.”
I laughed for what felt like the first time all day.
“I was fucking with you, baby girl. I don’t juggle women.”
I was actually making sure her loyalty was in the right place. If it wasn’t, I was going to kill her quick and tell Cali she ran off.
Fucking Cali.
I needed a drink, and I didn’t drink.
This was the part about giving shit that bit me in the ass. I had a track replaying in my goddamn head of every person she named, and I was gunning for their asses.
My beautiful girl thought she was a whore. Those motherfuckers created thorns on a flower that never had any.
I could see the real her, feel her trapped inside a dark fucking sinkhole that they shoved her in.
Cali knew exactly who she was. She was ashamed of it. She lashed out the only way she knew how because of it. Her head was irreparable because of it. Why had no one told her she was fucking perfect?
I’d never seen damaged look so good. Never seen bruised knees look so pretty. She was so perfect I didn’t deserve her. A better man would’ve let her go but that wasn’t me.
Arlen’s drowsy voice pulled me out of my head.
“Can I ask you something?”
“You just did.”
She gave me a flat look.
“Shoot your shot.”
She got so damn quiet I thought she’d fallen back asleep. Her back was to me and the blanket was almost over her head. Her question almost through me off guard—almost.
I wondered if she asked because she wanted to know or asked because she wanted a man nicknamed after the personification of death.
“What kind of evil are you?”
“The kind no one can save you from. If there’s a god, not even he could help you.”
“Okay, you can go fix your screw up now.” She adjusted her head on the arm of the couch and sighed.“You two, you’re like fire and gasoline. You’re perfect for one another so quit being a dumbass and go strike the match.”
I smirked at her back. If my sister were still alive, I could see her being a lot like Arlen. Standing up, I gave her the only advice I could offer.
“If you’re going to run, run now, because after tomorrow, everything’s going to change.”
CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR
He had deep scars beneath his tattoos. I’d never seen anything sadder than that. I’d never been so upset since watching Tilly burn.
If I had a heart left to break, it would have broken right then. Who hurt this man and where could I find them?
