CHAPTER THIRTYMary Jo
Mary Jo
I’m sore, but Cole fucks me thoroughly as soon as I wake up. I thought I was done coming after Jayden, but I was very wrong. My body responds to Cole with hunger and lust.
I drag myself down to the shower, feeling fully used. When I come out, I pad up the stairs. I hear the men talking.
“We need to take her with us.” It’s Jayden.
“She won’t like it.”
I freeze on the steps. I’m not far enough up that they can see me yet.
“She’s already escaped us once, and she’s smart. It’s been weeks since she last tried. Something is cooking and I don’t trust her enough to leave her.”
Cole sounds frustrated. “Then dope her up and throw her in the back of the truck. You’re going to traumatize her.”
My stomach cramps.
There’s silence. Then, “I won’t hide who I am from her. She’s going to find out sooner or later. She deserves to know.”
My heart races, and I shudder in a breath.
“Jesus, okay. But you gonna patch me up after she tries to kill me?”
“You get off on that, don’t even try.”
There’s a dark laugh.
I feel sick. I kick myself for growing complacent.
Of course, something bad is going to happen.
They beat a man for touching me; these men who I’ve been having mind-blowing sex with aren’t good men.
My hands and feet feel numb, and my vision is tunneled.
I try to back down the steps and trip over my feet.
“Little one,” Cole’s voice sounds behind me. I jump and turn. My eyes feel wide.
If he didn’t suspect me before, he does now. He drops the act and narrows his eyes. “Were you spying on us, lemon drop?”
I swallow. He has on cargo pants and black boots.
“No. I’m getting cramps. I was going to grab a pad.” I start to go back down the stairs. If I can get to his room, I can get a knife.
“Get your shoes.” His voice barks in command. “We’re going out.”
I keep going. “Hang on, I’ll be right there.”
I hear footsteps and his hand grips my shoulder. He turns me around, making my back bump into the wall. I try to get my adrenaline under control. I raise my chin.
For a split second his gaze softens, but then it’s gone, and he looks dangerous again. “Now, little one.”
Fine. I stalk past him. He follows closely, within arms reach. I look around wildly, but there’s nothing within my reach that I can sneak. He’s hovering too closely. I grab my shoes and put them on slowly. I then look for my sweater.
“Procrastinating won’t make it go away.” His voice is softer, almost kind.
I glare at him.
His gaze doesn’t waver. He takes me down to the truck and sits beside me in the back seat. I’m fully shaking now. And that makes me angry.
Cole rubs my thigh. “He’s not going to hurt you, little one.”
I whip my head around and stare at his hand. The same hand that made me come just a little bit ago. I snap my gaze up to his. “Why do I need to be drugged for this, Cole? And my name is Jo.”
There’s hardness in his eyes. “Why do you care about her so much?”
“What?” My mouth drops open.
“Sage. You don’t even know her.”
“I don’t need to know her to know you shouldn’t hurt her.”
“I won’t. Jayden will.”
I rear back.
“But that’s beside the point.” He leans into me. “Why. Do. You. Care?” His gaze searches mine.
I look away.
“It’s not your fault.” Cole gently grabs my chin. He moves it, so I’m looking at him again. I close my eyes.
“Hey.” He flicks my nose, and I open my eyes in surprise. “This is on Jayden. Not you.”
“Fuck you,” I snarl. “Let me go. Just let me go.”
He leans back, and the wall falls fully in front of his eyes. “Strap in.”
I think about clawing my way out of the car. Cole doesn’t wait. He pushes me back into the seat, reaches across me, and straps me in. He sits so close to me that his thigh presses into mine. I stare straight ahead.
Something thumps in the back of the truck, and then Jayden gets into the driver’s seat. I barely glance at him, just staring at the headrest of the seat in front of me.