Page 99 of King

"What, you're actually worried about that asshole?" He doesn't look at me, his nostrils flaring like I've offended him by asking that question. "He won't bother you anymore."

A flashback comes to mind. He's said these words before. I move my head until I'm in front of his bowl. “Did you do the same thing to Zane that you did to Luca?”

“Luca was out of line and got what was coming to him. As for Zane, I gave him what I promised. I told him if he didn't get the fuck out of here I'd come after him with all the money in the world to see him get locked up for good.”

“You threatened a person of colour with jail time?”

“I—well yeah…considering the circumstances.” His lips twist, spoon dropping in the soup. “But I also gave him nine grand and a one-way ticket down south with a place to stay. I don’t think he’ll be back.”

It takes me a second to digest what Damien is saying. Zane left The Grove. His domain.

“Well, all the more reason to stay here,” I say.

"His friends went with him." He gets up and it's hard not to look at his tight ass when he does. "So you can stop daydreaming about that orgy."

Prick.

Bowl in hand he walks around the corner to the open bathroom sink. There's still stains of blood on his skin, that morning replaying in my mind as the bowl clanks in the sink.

Wait, did he say they left? Both of them?

There's a lump in my throat while his sentence settles in my mind. They all left without me. They didn't even come to check on me.

Damien might be right. Why do I want to stay in The Grove when I'm not sure anyone here ever cared about me at all.

When he's back in eyesight, he leans against the wall. He swoops a hand through his dark strands before he tugs on his jaw. Hesitating, he crosses his arms over his bare chest. I can almost make out the gears moving in his head but it's like he's stopping himself from saying something.

A minute goes by, a pang in my core the longer I stare at his almost naked body. He lets out an exhale, eyes wandering over my body tucked into the sheets. "So, what'll it be?"

Cocking an eyebrow I meet his gaze. "What will what be?"

"Are you coming back to Eden or should I drop you off at the Glendale crackhouse?"

"God, you’re such a dick." My eyebrows knit together but he doesn't seem bothered. “I killed someone, remember? And all of Eden knows it and that’s your fault too. I don’t just get to come back from that.”

“For fucks sake Jo, you didn’t kill anybody!” His fists clenched, his forehead hits the wall before he looks back at me. “How were you supposed to know you had a bad supply? You’re not an idiot. Quit feeling sorry for yourself.”

I’m piecing together what he’s saying as quickly as I can.

I hate his tone. Hate the way he has to be so mean but no one’s ever said it like that. Even then, I’ve blamed myself for so long that it doesn’t even sound right.

“But—”

“And I didn’t tell Lea shit!” he cuts me off, strained voice getting louder. “Which reminds me, I’m getting sick of your assumptions.”

“You can’t blame me for having them!”

"I'm asking you to come back with me, you know you’re better off in Eden." His arms drop to his side. "You’re smart so start acting like it.”

“I am!” Now I’m yelling. “That’s how I know life’s not as easy for me as it is for you. If I go back to Eden, I’ll be stuck with the Archibalds. Lea will be out to get me. No one there cares.”

"Like I said, you're smarter than that." Dropping his arms he turns around, pushing his boxers off his tall, fit frame. I'm still in awe that a guy my age looks the way Damien does. He looks over his shoulder, his skin smooth and inviting. "You know I'll take care of everything. I'm not going to convince you any more than I have. Give me an answer when I'm done. I have your blood to wash off."

The sound of his shower fills the room, my head hits the pillow. Damien's an asshole but he might be right. He's taken care of so much already, but is he saying he'll be by my side back in Eden? Can I hold him to that? He's Damien King and it feels like I'm making another deal with the devil.

Going back to Eden means I'll be with someone who truly cares. Willow. And if she sent Damien to find me, that means she doesn't want me far away, even if it's better for her. Going back to Eden also means a better shot at a scholarship for a good university. One that I could never access from The Grove. That also means I'll be at the mercy of Lea and the Archibalds. Can I trust Damien to handle things?

Can I trust him at all?

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