CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE
CLOVER
“Do you think she needs a hospital?” Cash glanced over at me, his brow furrowed. “Do you need a hospital, Sunshine?”
I shook my head, absently running a finger over the rope burn on my wrist. “No, I’m okay. He didn’t hurt me much. I’m just really tired and thirsty.”
All I wanted was to go back to my dorm and sleep for three days. I didn’t think I’d ever forget the sound of Zane’s screams as they cut his fucking dick off. I still couldn’t believe they’d done that.
One of them fucked you with the hilt of the knife he used to cut the damn thing off. Of course they did that.
The thought echoed through my head, reminding me that these guys were ruthless killers. They may have saved me but they were not heroes. Were they?
“How did you find me?” I dared to ask.
I sat in the backseat of the Camaro with Cash, watching the rural scenery fly by out the window. Even though I’d only been with Zane for eight or nine hours, it had felt like a lifetime. I’d wondered if anyone would find me. His promises to take me far away had shaken me to the core.
“We went to the Sinners for help.” Daire turned in his seat to face me. “They were able to find records of the cabin and its location.”
The Sinners didn’t help anyone for nothing. Raina had gone to them too. They’d asked a lot of her.
“What did they charge you for that information?” I felt weird asking, but I needed to know.
Blaze met my eyes through the rearview mirror. “Five grand and a favor to be called in at any time. For what it’s worth, I’d have paid more.”
Something in his amber brown eyes made me uneasy. It was a little too much like the obsession I’d seen in Zane.
“Thank you,” I said quietly, averting my gaze.
To my surprise and dismay, they didn’t take me back to my dorm. Instead, Blaze drove straight to the Angel house.
“What’s going on?” Panic filled me at the thought of escaping Zane only to become their captive.
“I think it’s best for you to stay here for a while,” Blaze said, turning off the engine. “You’ll be safe here.”
Daire’s little chuckle didn’t make me feel safe. Blaze punched him in the arm.
“What about my things? I don’t even have my phone.” My voice rose with each word. Fear took hold, making my palms sweat and my face hot.
“We’ll go get your things, okay? One thing at a time. Let’s get you hydrated and rested first.” Blaze took my hand, pulling me from the car.
Exhausted and sore, I let him lead me into the house. It wasn’t like I had a choice. Not that I ever did with the Angels.
After chugging as much water as my stomach would hold, I accepted Blaze’s offer of a bath. Soaking in a tub of hot water sounded amazing right then. My dorm room only had a stand up shower.
“I doubt the hygiene products are as good as whatever you use. We’ll get your things later tonight. I’m sure you’re sick of wearing my clothes but I’ll bring you something clean.” Blaze placed clean towels on the bathroom counter.
The tub was a gorgeous soaker tub with jets and everything. I’d never been so happy to see a bathtub. Part of me expected Blaze to stay and watch, so when he left the room, I was elated to be alone.
While the water ran in the tub, I stripped down, making sure the door was locked. Not that I expected a lock to keep them out if they really wanted to get in here. I stood in front of the mirror, taking a good, long look at myself.
The young woman staring back at me was familiar yet different than I was used to. Something had changed. I saw it in my eyes. They were a duller shade of blue than usual. The light within them had dimmed. The past few weeks had tested me in ways I’d never expected.
I’d grown up living a pretty sheltered life. My parents had been overprotective, doing their best to keep my brother and me from the harsh realities of the real world. That didn’t stop me from sneaking around with my friends and getting into typical teen trouble. Although I’d never experienced anything remotely close to what life had recently dealt me.
I’d come to Ravencrest University with dreams of building a future for myself and enjoying the campus party scene while I was at it. Not for a second had I anticipated life taking such a twisted turn.
I stepped into the tub and sat down, sighing as the hot water washed over me. What I wouldn’t give to talk to Raina right now. As soon as I got my phone back, I was calling her. Only she could provide guidance for dealing with such a screwed up situation.
Sinking down so the water came up to my neck, I closed my eyes in an effort to relax. Immediately images of Zane on top of me flashed behind my eyelids. They were followed by the detailed memory of the Angels brutally mutilating him before the final bullet that finished him off.
There had been so much blood. And his screams. They would live in the recesses of my mind for the rest of my life.
I covered my ears with both hands as if that would help. A sob lodged in my throat as my eyes filled with tears. I didn’t want to fall apart over this. Once I gave in to the emotion, I may never come back. The shock and trauma of being kidnapped had me in a chokehold. Having my saviors also be the men who’d given me the choice between death or being their toy didn’t help.
I let a few stray tears slide down my cheeks before wiping them away with water. My chest heaved as I sucked in several deep breaths. What was with the men in this city? Bunch of psychotic bastards.
When the water started to cool uncomfortably, I washed up and got out. Total and utter exhaustion hit hard, making it hard to keep my eyes open. I slid on the clean t-shirt and shorts Blaze had left me, wishing I had some fresh underwear. After dragging someone’s brush through my damp hair, I opened the door and peered into the hallway.
One bedroom door stood open. I padded over to it and glanced inside.
Blaze lay sprawled on the bed with his phone in one hand. Shirtless wearing only boxers, his taut body drew my gaze. His abs were perfectly defined, tempting me to sink my teeth into him. When he saw me standing there, he placed his phone on the side table and motioned me over.
“Hey there, Rainbow. You look tired. Come climb in with me. I promise not to bite. This time.” He moved over on the double bed, patting the space next to him.
The promise of sleep lured me. I crossed the room, noting that it was neither small nor large but had a cozy vibe. A guitar on a stand had been propped next to the dresser. A small TV perched on top. A few clothing items littered the floor despite the laundry basket in one corner.
Trying to ignore the awkward sensation that took over as I got into the bed with Blaze, I accepted the pillow he offered and did my best to get comfortable.
“What time is it?” I asked. The blinds were drawn, blocking out the light.
“Almost five. We’ll sleep for a few hours and then grab some food and your things. Sound good?” Blaze laid down next to me, giving me some space.
I kept expecting him to paw at me or demand something from me. This nice act was suspicious as hell. I didn’t trust it for a moment.
“Yeah, that sounds great. Thanks.” I rolled onto my side, facing away from him. His scent was everywhere. Every breath I took was filled with Blaze. To my chagrin, I didn’t hate it.
The silence that fell was deafening. I was almost relieved when Blaze broke it by asking, “Are you okay, Clover? Do you want to talk about anything that happened?”
“Not really.” I shook my head, burrowing deeper under the blankets. After another moment of strained silence I said, “You guys make it look so easy. Killing someone. Doesn’t it bother you?”
Blaze shifted his position so he faced me even though I faced away. “It used to. I was seventeen the first time I killed someone. A neighbor. He and my dad didn’t get along. They were always arguing about stupid shit like where the property line was and reporting each other for minor offenses.
“One day it escalated. They fought. The neighbor smashed my dad over the head with a rock. Put him in a coma that he never came out of. He was only going to get a few years in jail. So I broke into his house and forced him to eat a bottle of pills. It was ruled a suicide. Some people deserve it, Clover. That makes it easier.”
I let Blaze’s story sink in, wondering how I would have handled losing my dad that way. Finally, I said, “I’m sorry, Blaze. That’s awful.”
“Too many people get away with being wasteful pieces of shit, you know? We deal with those people because nobody else will. I’m not going to pretend we’re good guys. You know that we’re not.” He left it at that, letting me form my own opinions.
“Don’t you think that makes you guys hypocrites sometimes?” I dared to ask, drawing courage from facing the wall instead of Blaze. “You threatened to kill me. You forced me to be your sex doll.”
Blaze’s voice was low and husky when he said, “Like I said, we’re not the good guys.”
Bad guys who hurt other bad guys. If I expected him to be apologetic for any wrongdoing, I was going to be sorely disappointed. I knew better than that. Guys like the Angels weren’t sorry. They did whatever they wanted and didn’t give a fuck what anyone else thought.
Not knowing what else to say, I said nothing. After several moments passed, Blaze rolled in close against me, aligning his body with mine.
“Is it okay if I spoon you? You can say no. I just thought a cuddle might be nice.”
He was asking my permission? Shocking.
The idea of being snuggled against his warm body had its appeal. Even though a voice inside my head yelled at me to say no, I heard myself say, “That would be nice.”
Blaze pressed as close as he possibly could, slinging an arm over my waist. Having his strong form at my back felt good. Too good. It was the kind of thing a girl could get used to.
Reminding myself that he’d just admitted to being a bad guy, I closed my eyes and begged sleep to take me. And it did, for a while.
My dreams were tormented by Zane. Over and over my mind replayed him telling me that we were meant to be together. That he would take me away where nobody would find us. Why couldn’t I escape him?
I awoke with a sudden start to Blaze’s lips on the back of my neck and his hand between my legs. He’d delved beneath the shorts I wore, his fingers running along my slit. My automatic reaction was to shove his hand away. It didn’t work.
Blaze resisted my efforts, keeping his hand firmly planted on my pussy. His sly laugh in my ear sent a hot shiver down my spine. “Seemed like you were having a bad dream. Thought I’d try to help.”
“That’s really not necessary.” I pushed against his hand again. It wouldn’t budge.
“I think it is. Now hold still and let me eat that sweet pussy. Unless you’d prefer to be tied up again.” Without waiting for a response, Blaze tossed the blankets off us. He grabbed my shorts and pulled them down in one swift move.
The last thing I wanted was to be bound in any way. The very thought made me want to scream.
Blaze positioned himself between my legs, throwing each of them over his shoulders. He grabbed hold of my hips, hoisting my ass up. He went right for my clit, sucking it into his mouth. I wanted so badly to hate it, to hate everything he did to me.
“Blaze, stop,” I begged, needing to free myself from the mind blowing sensation. Why did it have to feel so damn good?
“Fuck no,” he murmured against me before plunging his tongue inside me.
He fucked me with his tongue, ignoring my weak protests. I reached down to shove him away but only ended up fisting a handful of his hair instead. As a moan spilled from my lips, my hips moved, pushing against him.
Blaze licked my juices, his tongue lapping them up like he couldn’t get enough. Gliding his tongue back to my clit, he circled it teasingly before licking it like a lollipop. Little flicks that turned into larger strokes of his tongue against me. My legs began to shake as my body sped quickly toward orgasm.
Pleasure overtook me, spreading through my limbs. I moaned his name, hating the way it sounded so breathy and wanton yet unable to stop myself. My entire body shook with the power of my climax.
Blaze peered up at me with a wicked gleam in his eyes. “Fuck, you taste so good. I always knew you would. Come on. Let’s go downstairs and figure out food.”
He gave me a slap on my pussy that sent shockwaves through me before climbing off the bed. I stared after him as he left the room with an extra spring in his step.
Even though Zane may have been more dangerous in his obsession, I had a sinking feeling that the Angels never planned to let me go. Not until they tired of me. Then they would kill me.