Page 13 of Lethal Truths

For now, though, I’m just happy to have more one-on-one time with Creed. We’ve spent the last hour working on homework in comfortable silence, and he keeps stealing these sweet, slightly heated looks at me from across the bed. If he didn’t have somewhere to be tonight, I’d likely snap and ask for a second lesson between his sheets.

Like I said, even if I can’t trust him fully with my heart, I can still fuck him. And my pussy wholeheartedly agrees.

“Keep looking at me like that, and I’ll be late tonight,” he tells me, closing the textbook in his lap and setting it aside.

“Where did you say you were going?” I ask, though it’s hard to keep my focus when Creed crawls up the bed and settles on top of me, urging me to lie back for him.

“I didn’t,” he answers before nipping my bottom lip and rolling his hips into me. My thighs are spread and he’s settled between them like he belongs, and damn it, it’s hard to argue that point when he feels so right there.

Winding my arms around Creed’s neck, I breathe, “Tell me now, then. What’s so important that you’re leaving me here in your bed, needy and desperate?” I’m playing dirty, and I know it, but hasn’t that been the game all along? None of these guys have played fairly. None of them have followed any rules. Even if I’m working on mending things with Creed, on slowly forgiving him, I still need answers and I’ll do what it takes to get them.

There’s this look in his eyes as he studies me, and I can tell he’s deep in thought for a second. With a sigh, Creed adjusts himself over me so our position isn’t quite so… intimate. Instead, it’s like he’s just lying here, comfortable to use me as a pillow while his eyes dare me not to move. “Why did Griffin disclose so much to you? What made him tell you about The Celestials?” he asks me softly, brushing my wild hair out of my face.

I take a deep breath, fighting the pain that comes whenever I think about Griffin. “He wanted me to trust him, so he could turn around and hurt me,” I reply dryly.

Creed cocks a sad half-smile, shaking his head at me. “Baby, any one of us could hurt you in a second without any real effort. Griffin wouldn’t have spilled all his secrets just to do it.”

My teeth grind together at the reminder of how well they’ve all wounded me, but I brush it off. For now. “I don’t know, then, Creed. You tell me why your asshole friend did what he did?” I counter, my voice brittle and sharp.

“I think,” Creed starts, pressing a chaste kiss to my lips. “He did it to help you. To win you over because he’s a miserable sap with a savior complex. But why? What is it you need? Why come to Blackwood, Prudence, and why did Griffin risk his life to tell you about The Celestials?”

I swallow past the lump in my throat, searching Creed’s amber eyes for something. What, I haven’t a clue, but I think I find it, anyway. I must, because the next second, my mouth pops open and words spill out without my permission. “I’m here for my mom,” I whisper, closing my eyes tight. I still haven’t been able to talk to her. Asher ruined the last chance I got when he took my phone from me all those weeks ago. She had slipped into a nasty episode, and it’s taking her a while to get back on track. “The Celestials are responsible for her… current condition, and I’m here to find proof.”

“Condition?” he asks, raising his brows. “Explain.”

I roll my eyes, trying to shift out from under him. When he doesn’t let me move even an inch, I huff out a frustrated breath. “I’ve told you enough. How do I know you won’t go right back to those people and sell me out?”

The honest to god wounded look he spears me with cuts my chest open. Creed pushes off of me and sits back on his knees, frowning so deeply that I worry the expression will get stuck on his hauntingly handsome face. “You don’t trust me?” he murmurs, but a second later, he shoves his hand through his hair and breathes out a bitter laugh. “No, of course you don’t. I know… I’m sorry. I’m being thick, demanding your secrets when I haven’t earned them. But I’m trying, Ember.” He shrugs, looking so vulnerable and broken that it takes a lot not to wrap him up in my arms. “I’m trying so hard to be good for you, but I’ve never had anyone to be good for. I’ve never had anyone expect a single thing from me besides my insanity. What if I don’t know how to do this? What if I never earn your trust?” He drops his gaze to his hands, staring at them like he can actually see the blood and scars from all his past deeds.

I fold like a wet fucking noodle. Sitting up, I take Creed’s hand in mine, lacing our fingers together and squeezing until he drags his eyes to mine again. “You can start by telling me where you’re going tonight,” I whisper. I have a feeling I already know the answer, but I’d like to hear it from him. It’ll be a step in the right direction if he can admit it.

Creed doesn’t even take a second to think about it. “A meeting. The Celestials called all the junior members in tonight, which doesn’t always happen. It could be something big, or it could be a form of slow torture, forcing us to sit through their bullshit,” he rattles off like if he doesn’t say it quick enough, the words will escape him.

I knew it. Ever since I got that note, I’ve had a feeling the very people I’m after would be close to Creed at some point. “Let me come,” I say desperately. “I’ll hide, stay in the shadows, whatever the hell you tell me to do. Just let me come with you, and maybe something they do or say will help lead me to my answers.”

Creed chews on his lip, looking like he’s weighing his options. When he levels a stern look at me, I know I won’t like what he’s going to say. “No, baby. It’s too dangerous. Stay here in my room, and when I get back, I’ll tell you every last detail about the meeting.”

“No, Creed—“

“Anything in particular I should be listening for?” he continues, barreling over my words.

I could fight him over this, but would I win? It’s more likely Creed will tie me to his bed and leave me there. He may be sorry for hurting me, but we both know he’ll do it again if he thinks he’s protecting me now. Instead, I relent and mutter, “I don’t know. Anything about me, obviously. Anything that might be incriminating? Something that would help me break them down from the inside and leave them a bloody mess.”

Creed laughs as he stands, pulling his hand from mine. While he walks to his closet and pulls out a black shirt, he turns and winks at me over his shoulder, saying, “Oh, baby. If it’s blood you want, I’m more than happy to deliver. The question is, whose and how much of it am I spilling for you? And most importantly, can we fuck in it afterward?”

I blink at him a few times, biting my lip to keep my dark smile in check. His mood swings could give me whiplash, but I’m starting to think it’s part of his charm. Painfully sincere and bared one second, cocky and dangerous the next. I like it. Maybe more than I should.

Fifteen minutes later, Creed is gone.

He left me with a violent, hungry kiss, and a firm command to stay put. But doesn’t he know? I’m not very good at following rules. I warned Griffin once before, but it seems Creed should have got the message, too. I only hope he doesn’t punish me too thoroughly when he finds out I snuck out and followed him.

After watching the clock tick tock for a few, long seconds, I spring to my feet and scurry to pull a black hoodie over myself. Creed left just a few minutes ago, and I want to be hot on his ass without being too close that he’ll notice. I hope they’re walking, though, because if the guys left in a car, I’ve already lost them.

As I get my shoes on, there’s a knock at the door. I glance over, my brows furrowed. I don’t rush to answer, shoving my phone in my pocket. A louder, more aggressive knock follows moments later, making me jump. “Yeah, alright! Coming,” I call out. I’m equally curious and irritated as I march across Creed’s room and grab the doorknob. Whoever it is can’t be looking for me, right? When I swing the door open, though, the hallway is eerily dark and empty. “Hello?” I ask hesitantly, stepping out and peering up and down the hall. But not a soul is here.

With a deep frown, I close the door and quickly tie my hair out of my face. With one last check that I’ve got keys and my cell, I’m ready. Just as I grab the doorknob to leave, someone knocks again. Chills erupt over my skin as I stare at the door like it’s about to crash open any second. “Who is it?” I shout. Again, there’s a battering, almost angry sounding knock. I frantically search around the room for a weapon. It’s Creed; there’s a high chance I’ll find a knife or something equally threatening somewhere.

Grabbing a metal baseball bat from his closet — I couldn’t find a more deadly option fast enough — I clutch it in one hand and swing the door open with the other. But again, no one is there.

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