“Kathy’s staying for now. And Darla. Have you asked them why?” Her eyes narrow.
I trap my bottom lip with my teeth and grin. “I wasn’t tasked with keeping an eye on them.”
“I fucking knew it,” she growls. “You’ve been watching me.”
“It’s not the worst view. Just a little stormy for now.”
She appears as though she can’t decide if she wants to slap me again or smile.
“Why are you staying, Jenna?”
“Because this isn’t just about me anymore. I have to see this through for the rest of the women they took. For the children.” Her gaze sharpens, stirring something inside of me. “Because if they took one, Fang, there are probably more. A lot more.”
TWENTY-ONE
JENNA
He mademe promise not to tell anyone else what I’d told him. Not yet.
I want to believe that Fang will make the same promise. But as I study the way he casually chats with Loki on the far side of the room, the straight-up confidence of the man tells me I’d be naive to place that trust in him, especially after the things he said in his room.
So why did I tell Fang my biggest secret?Yoursecondbiggest secret.Was I just tired of burdening it all alone? Because that’s the only plausible reason I can find for why I’d tell a member of a rival MC that I was born a Devil’s Breed brat, even if I wasn’t raised one.Unless his kiss worked to disarm and confuse you, just like he wanted.
I should have pushed him away earlier. Kicked him square in the nuts. But the moment his lips touched mine, I was a goner.
So I indulged. I let him lead, and I savored what it felt like to have his mouth work against mine. Even if only for a second.
And here I now sit, still justifying with myself why it’s wrong to want more.
Kathy enters the room, casting a wary gaze the men’s way before slipping across to where I sit. “The van’s here,” she says quietly. “To pick up Nandi and Mila.”
My chest squeezes.It’s time to move on.“I’ll be right out.”
She nods, retreating as quickly as she arrived.
I look to my left. “Would you like to come say goodbye?”
The Kid lifts her attention from the block game on Darko’s iPad and nods.
I wait for her to set the device aside and then offer my hand, rising to stand at the same time as she does. She still hasn’t spoken—as far as I’m aware—and she’s yet to show much emotion outside of understandable caution around new faces and new places. Most importantly, she doesn’t look at me as though she knows. There’s no hesitation in her gaze, no trepidation to her touch.
I feel even more of a monster for the deceit.
Sure enough, a white van sits on the driveway when we step onto the porch, waiting for Nandi and Mila’s departure.
As do Fang and Loki.
I avoid the men’s stares, fixing my gaze on the boards beneath my feet while The Kid leads the way to our departing sisters.
Tears are shed. Kind words are spoken. Hugs are exchanged.
None of which involve Nandi.
Fang’s advice to engage with others more sits at the forefront of my mind while I venture to where Nandi stands stiffly to the side, invisible walls erected around her to shelter her from the human emotion of it all. “How’s the head?” If having a conversation makes me appear more trustworthy, then so be it.
I can do that.
Nandi doesn’t look my way, answering in a bored monotone. “Fine.”
