Chapter 5
CHAPTER 5
SPENCER
I ’m ashamed to admit that the neanderthal display of physical prowess almost had me opening my legs in invitation. Seeing Rio take on three grown men by himself was reckless, and I shouldn’t encourage that kind of behavior, but then Zane jumped into the fray, and I couldn’t stop the pulsing need between my thighs.
Fucking Horny Spencer!
If we weren’t with Rio’s family, I would have offered myself up for the main course, regardless of the fact that I’m mad at them.
I have needs too.
The three men who crashed dinner terrify me, but with my men close, I know I’m safe. From what I’ve gathered, their names are Gabriel, Mateo, and Diego, they might have a thing with Carmen, and they’re unfazed when murdering men in basements.
Then the cold bucket of water that is Asher Dawson was thrown onto my hormones when he made me sit next to him. I wish I could say that I don’t long for him to call me “Princess” again in that husky tone of his. I shouldn’t yearn for his rough hands on my skin, and I hate myself for wanting a man who clearly doesn’t want me for more than just my body.
After about five minutes of eating with all this tension, I can’t handle being at the table anymore. My three men seem to be envisioning slowly killing the other three who joined our little fiesta, and the new three are bouncing between murderous stares, smug looks, and attempting to get Carmen’s attention.
I’m trying to ignore the reality that I saw all of these men in a basement, torturing and killing. Secretly, I’m hoping those two deserved it, but that doesn’t stop me from remembering the pop of the gun when they were shot in the head.
I’ve heard that sound before, and it still haunts me.
Quietly, and on shaking legs, I stand from my chair and motion to leave, but I’m stopped with a large hand on my arm.
Looking to the giant with an attitude, I snap, “I just need to go to the restroom.”
“I’ll come with you,” he insists.
Absolutely fucking not.
My face flames as I realize that all eyes are on us. Zane watches me closely, like he’s ready to grab my other arm, while Rio just smirks at our interaction. The attention from the men across the table is too keen for my liking and I attempt to swallow the lump forming in my throat.
Carmen interjects, “She’s a grown woman, Ash. You don’t need to watch her pee.”
“Wouldn’t be the first time,” he mumbles, and I shoot a withering glare in his direction.
Before he can argue further, Carmen stands with me. “I’ll show her. You can chill.”
Glancing down at the brute still grasping my arm, I dart my eyes to the side, reminding him that we have an audience. But, of course, he and the rest of my damn wardens don’t give a fuck.
A throat clears at the head of the table, and Asher reluctantly releases my arm once he makes eye contact with Paloma.
Taking the escape, she and Carmen are giving me, I scurry away. Carmen links her arm with mine as we walk away together and she lets out a sigh, making me think she needs to get away from the table just as badly as I do.
“I’m Carmen, by the way,” she says with a kind smile as we step through the back door.
“Spencer.”
“Yeah, I figured. Rio doesn’t shut up about you.”
My face heats at her comment and all words leave me.
“I’m sorry to bring all the drama here. It’s not usually like that.” She tilts her head to the side. “Okay, that’s a lie—sometimes it is. But when you have five menstruating women all in one room, shit is bound to happen.”
We round a corner that leads down a hallway covered in family pictures and it’s hard to resist the urge to stop and find baby pictures of Rio.
“Don’t worry about it. I’m an only child, so it’s fun to see the family dynamics.”
Carmen turns to me and widens her eyes. “I want to be clear, I didn’t invite those guys here. Gabriel grew up with Rio, so he randomly shows up, and over the years he added Mateo and Diego.”
Rio grew up with that violent psycho?
Regardless, my heart goes out to her—I understand.
Sometimes it’s nice to have the attention of three attractive men.
But then you find out they kill people in their basement.
“I know what you mean. Sometimes you want to push them away, but they literally won’t leave you alone.”
Or they handcuff you to the fucking bed and then expect you to wear other women’s clothes.
“It’s complicated,” Carmen says on a sigh while her shoulders fall forward as we stop before the bathroom door.
“I’m good with complicated,” I emphasize with a head tilt. “I wish there was something I could do to help. God knows I’m not happy with Rio, Asher, and Zane right now either.” Most days, actually.
“Well . . .” She trails off in thought, then gives me a mischievous smile. “Maybe there is.”