Boys and Their Toys
Hazel
A hush descends over the room as we enter. For one awful second I think we’ve been caught but then an echo reverberates through the speakers and all heads turn to watch Senator Claren take the stage.
He stands behind the podium in a suit and tie, a disarming smile pasted on his face as he addresses the crowd.
“Ladies and gentlemen, I cannot thank you enough for taking the time to come out this evening to support this cause, which most of you already know means a great deal to me.
“I must confess to always getting a bit bored at these things when the speakers take the stage, so I’ll keep this short and sweet.”
Everyone chuckles and goosebumps prick my arms at how easily he has them all fooled.
“I started the Speak Up Foundation ten years ago now. Over that time, we have helped countless survivors of sexual assault. I am delighted that, with your support, this new clinic will enable us to help even more vulnerable women.”
Flynn’s hand twitches and for once I don’t fight the instinct to slip my hand into his.
The senator gives a small shake of his head, dropping his gaze before looking back up. The whole act is scarily convincing.
“I thought long and hard about what to name the clinic and, in the end, I was reminded of a young woman who came to Speak Up for help. This brave girl had been horrendously assaulted while at college and it had taken her years to be able to share her story with anyone.”
Unease whispers along the back of my neck. He wouldn’t…
“Our counsellors tried their best to help her but in the end the damage done was too much and she took her own life.
“It is my hope that with this new clinic we will be able to reach women like her sooner, we will be able to provide them with state-of-the-art facilities, therapists and treatment so that no one ever feels as this young woman did.”
Beside me, Flynn has gone unnaturally still. The senator’s gaze sweeps over his audience, and I tense when it lands on us. My stomach drops.
“Flynn,” I murmur under my breath and tug on his hand, but he doesn’t move.
The senator smiles. A thing of pure sadism. “I consider it a true honor to name the clinic in memory of this brave young woman. Ladies and gentlemen, I give you The Hope Clinic.”
The Senator steps back from the podium and flourishes his arm as a banner unfurls from the top of the stage, the clinic’s name up there for everyone to see. Hope’s name.
Rage punches at my skin. I want to scream at him. I want to claw his eyes out. I want to tell everyone in this room what that fucker did to Hope.
The senator looks back over at us. I don’t know how he knew we were here or why he hasn’t just called the police but the smug gleam to his eyes tells me he knows exactly who Flynn is. He knows what he just did. And he’s proud of it.
I step forward, my limbs trembling, but whatever control holding Flynn in place snaps and he tugs me back, spinning around to face me.
“Go. Now.”
“No. I’m not leaving you,” I argue.
“Yes, you are.” Flynn’s eyes are cold, not a trace of emotion left on his beautiful face, and I realize I’m looking at a killer.
Fear shivers down my spine.
“Go, Hazel. Now.”
I don’t want to argue with this version of Flynn, but I can’t get my feet to move.
My gaze drifts over to where the Senator is shaking hands with a guest at the foot of the stage.
When I look back at Flynn my thoughts must be written clear as day because the darkness in his gaze lightens ever so slightly and he cups my face with his hand.
“I won’t touch him tonight, I promise.”
The panic in my chest unlatches and I take one last look at the damned ballroom.
Danny is over by the senator and the thought that maybe Flynn is right and that he’s not what he seems makes me sick to my stomach.
The last thing I want to do is talk to him and I’m pretty sure the game has changed now the senator knows Flynn is here, so I leave without saying goodbye.
I take a taxi back to my place and by the time I’m home my emotions are pressing at my skin. Flynn gave me rules I’m supposed to be following but I can barely breathe. I stare at the floor at the end of my bed, where he told me to kneel, my heart racing, skin vibrating.
I scream into the quiet and throw my purse across the room. It smashes against the windowsill, the contents scattering over the floor. I dig my hands into my hair, nails clawing my scalp.
The horror of what Claren did tonight is too much to bear and I want to tear my own skin off. Somehow, he knows Flynn’s plan and he’s toying with him. A sick and twisted game.
I scream again. Fuck him. Fuck this. Fuck Flynn’s rules. I didn’t ask for this. I didn’t want to be involved. I was perfectly happy living my life far away from monsters like Claren. But then Flynn climbed in my bedroom window and now my life is serial killers and stalkers and rapists.
Well, screw him. I don’t want to play this game anymore.
I go into the bathroom and tear off my dress. I shower under water so hot my skin turns red and then I pull on my night shirt and climb into bed.
Hazel’s guide to escaping a nightmare: Hide under your comforter until it goes away.
Except Flynn doesn’t go away. And half an hour later, when his Oxfords tap against the floorboards with each slow step, I start to wish I’d done what I was told. Because I’m not kneeling at the bottom of my bed and one look at Flynn’s beautiful, marble cut face tells me that was a mistake.
Stone eyes bore into me. His hand curls around the comforter and he slowly drags it off my body. I shiver as cool air hits my skin.
“You’re not where I told you to be, Lilac.”
I go to pull the sheets back, but Flynn shakes his head. “No.”
I sink back against the pillow as Flynn takes his time removing his jacket and folding it over the back of my desk chair. He kicks off his shoes next and then undoes the buttons on his cuffs, folding each sleeve up with a precision that has my heart racing.
The bed dips as he climbs onto it, straddling my hips. I gasp as he twists my nightshirt in his fist and tugs upwards, lifting my back off the bed.
“I’m not in the mood for you to be bratty, Hazel.”
Anger burns anew inside of me, and I shove at his chest. “I’m not being bratty. I’m scared and angry and you can’t just ignore me for three days and then reappear and expect me to bow to your every demand.”
Flynn’s pale eyes flare. He reaches for my arms, but I pull away. “No.” I fight him with everything I’ve got, all the anger and adrenaline from the evening firing through my body, but he’s too strong. He pins my wrists behind my back and lifts me up, depositing me on my feet at the end of the bed.
I cry out as his hand twists in my hair, hating how good the pain feels. I tense, locking my body, but it’s no good. All I can do is grit my teeth as Flynn forces me to my knees at the foot of my bed.
When he drops to the floor in front of me, I brace myself for the cold killer but instead I get my Flynn. His jaw feathers, pain creasing his eyes as he rests his forehead against mine.
“I’m sorry, Lilac.” His breath waterfalls over me, calming my heart.
“Seeing you the other day, so close to the senator— fuck. All I wanted to do was keep you as far from the dark shit in my life as possible.” He draws back, his shoulders heavy.
“I thought I was doing the right thing, the good thing, by leaving you alone.”
Tears push at my eyes, my heart breaking with feelings I shouldn’t have. “So do it now,” I sob. “Just leave, Flynn.”
His face twists but he shakes his head. “I can’t. You’re on his radar now, it’s not safe for me to just leave you.” He gives me a sad smile. “And even if it was, I’m not sure I could. You’re in my bones, Hazel.”
I don’t say anything because I know what he means. I feel him down to the marrow, and I don’t understand how I can want to push him away and cling to him so tightly at the same time.
“This isn’t okay,” I say, my voice breaking. “You gave me a teddy named after a serial killer!”
Flynn grabs hold of my shirt again and tugs me in towards him. “For the record, I am not like his namesake. He’s the kind of man I kill.”
I close my eyes. “I hate it when you do that.”
“Do what?”
“Talk about killing people like it’s normal. Like it’s every day. Like, oh, I’m just heading out to the store and then I’m going to dismember a rapist.”
Flynn blinks at me. “Would you rather I let the rapist live?”
“Yes. No. I don’t know!” Senator Claren’s face flashes into my mind and I feel sick because part of me does want Flynn to kill him. He deserves it after what he did tonight, after what he did to Hope.
Flynn lets go of my shirt and trails his hand down my face. “You’re right. Nothing about this is okay. You should run far, far away from me.” He dips his head and his teeth scrape his bottom lip. “I’m just not sure I’ll let you if you try.”
Desire shoots through me and I’m pretty sure I should be worried that being threatened turns me on but honestly, we’re way past that. “What if I don’t want to run away? What if I want to fight?”
Flynn’s nostrils flare and he crashes his lips into mine.
The kiss is angry, both of us battling each other with every tangle of tongues and bruising touch. I cling to him, curling my fingers around the back of his neck and pulling him closer as my core tightens.
Flynn shifts so his leg is between my thighs and I gasp, grinding against him because I need his touch like I need air and I fucking hate that.
I think he must read my mind because Flynn’s hand snakes around my throat and he lifts me up till we’re both standing and I’m balancing on tip toes. “You’re going to be the death of me, Hazel Halloway,” he murmurs against my lips then he snags my bottom lip between his teeth and bites down, hard.
I moan, the sharp pain shooting straight to my clit, but I’m not done being angry. “Fuck you, Flynn,” I whisper.
Flynn spins us around and shoves me down onto the bed. His hand comes back to my throat as he straddles me, pinning my hips to the mattress. “Good idea.”