Page 46 of Wicked Revenge

“Ella is going to give us a ride. We left our bikes out last night,” Royal says, his jaw clenched and ticking, making me wonder what they were talking about.

“Oh, I need to stop by my cottage too,” I tell them, remembering I left Nightshade parked in the forest. Maddox steps up next to me, grabbing my hand.

“We can do that,” he says, as I feel something cold wrap around my wrist before hearing a metallic click that sets me on edge. “Wh-what are you doing?”

“Oh, this?” He asks, grinning at me as he picks up my hand and clicks the second handcuff around his own wrist. “I got us matching bracelets, pretty girl. Do you like them?”

Before I can even respond, Royal steps in front of me, his jaw still ticking as he stares down at me.

“It seems like you weren’t listening earlier, so these are just a precaution. You can’t get Ella to help you give yourself to King if you’re handcuffed to Maddox, can you?”

“El, you told them?” I ask, hurt and pissed off at this entire situation.

Why won’t they listen to me?

“I’m sorry Rae, I really am. But I just got you back. We will find another way. Together.”

“Ella, can you go wait in the truck please?” Royal asks, his eyes never leaving mine. She waits for me to give her the okay with a simple nod of my head before walking out the front door. Restrained rage paints his face, but his eyes give him away.

Fear swirls through his icy blue eyes like a storm. He is scared for not only his sister but for me. I know I'm not the only one dealing with these strange new emotions between us, and even if I don't understand it completely, I understand his fear.

“I’m sorry.” I whisper, “I’m just scared for your sister.”

“I know, Angel,” he whispers back, leaning forward to press his lips to my forehead before turning toward the door. “Be a good girl while we’re out today, and maybe I won’t tie you up when we get back home.” He smirks as he walks out of the house. I can’t decide if I want to slap that smirk off his face or kiss it off.

“You are not alone in this anymore,” Alek says, kissing my cheek as he passes me, following Royal out the door.

I stand there with Maddox cuffed to me, trying to figure out how these men can play with my emotions the way they do.

They make me feel so many things at once. Maybe they’re right. Maybe we can figure this out together. All I know is every second that passes that their sister is in King’s hands is too long.

It’s been a year, and they’re still searching for her. What has King done to her in that time? Is she even still alive? I have all these questions running rampant at once, my mind racing to find answers I don’t have.

“Hey, look at me.” Maddox brings his hands to my face, turning me to face him, the cuff chain dangling between us. “Get out of your head, pretty girl.”

“How do you do that?” I ask, staring into his smokey gray eyes.

“Do what?” He smiles his signature smile back at me, making my knees weak.

“How do you know when I’m lost inside my head? When my mind races?”

He brings me into his arms, tilting my chin to stare up at him. “I know what it feels like to be lost inside your own head. Your thoughts racing faster than you can latch onto one. That’s my mind every day. I know what it looks like.” His honesty brings tears to my eyes, his thumb swiping away the ones that escape down my cheek.

“Don’t waste your tears on me, Cherry. For the first time since I was eight years old, the thoughts have begun to quiet. Do you want to know when that started happening?”

“When?” I ask, his eyes gazing into mine as he speaks.

“That night at Twisted. I didn’t even see your face. When your body pressed against mine, I smelled your sweet cherry scent. When I touch you, when you're near me, my head is quiet.” He presses his forehead to mine, closing his eyes and inhales deeply.

“You think I smell like cherries?” I whisper.

Is that why he calls me Cherry?

“You do,” he laughs against my lips before kissing me hard. “Now come on, we got shit to do. And Royal really doesn’t like waiting.”

“Oh no, what’s he going to do, threaten to tie me up again? I’m starting to think his threats are empty.” Sarcasm colors my tone, causing us both to laugh.

“Maybe you’re right. I’ve been trying to get him to tie me up for years,” he says, winking at me before closing the door behind us.

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