Page 105 of Shadows in Bloom

“Two years you might not get to live yourself if you aren’t careful,” he snapped back.

Even though he figured that was where this was headed anyway, Nikita shut his mouth.

Ledger ran hand through his long black hair. It was worn down at the moment, the strands stopping just beneath the curve of his chin, but typically it was up whenever Nikita spotted the Devil around town.

He’d often wondered about it actually. Secretly pictured running his fingers through it.

Crazy shit.

Impossible. Losers like Nikita didn’t have the chance to get close to a Devil.

“Okay, let’s get down to it,” Ledger said. “Why’d you sneak in here? I’ve never heard of any Orsons, which means they’re not members of Club Vigor. Don’t try to spin me a story about running from your abusive brother. This place isn’t exactly on the beaten path.”

The yearly membership for Club Vigor was more than his father made in five years, but that was beside the point. Friction wasn’t technically a part of the club, even if it was built on club grounds, so even if Nikita’s family had been members, that wouldn’t get him off the hook.

“I wouldn’t lie to you,” Nikita said. “I’m not stupid.”

Ledger quirked a brow, the silver piercing through his left eyebrow glittering in the overhead lights. He didn’t need to verbally explain what the look was for.

Nikita dropped his gaze. “I’m not usually reckless or a lowlife. This is the dumbest thing I’ve ever done.”

He’d known it was risky, breaking into Friction. But he’d been out of options. The dare had given him an excuse, an extra reason to go through with the asinine plan he’d been concocting for months, if not years, now. It’d become abundantly clear that if he didn’t get out, his brother was going to kill him one of these days, and even though it’d been a long time since he’d stopped fearing death, whatever fight had been left in him had demanded he at least try to get away.

At least try to ensure that even if he did die, it would be at the hands of someone other than his brother.

Looked like he was about to get his wish.

Nikita had run from Ledger, but mostly out of instinct. Truth was, even though he expected a bit of doubt, there was none. All he felt was…numb.

Well, that and attraction every time he allowed himself to focus on how hot Ledger was.

“I was looking for something to steal,” he admitted softly, still not able to make eye contact as he confessed, a flicker of self-deprecation slipping past the numbness.

Oran might not get the chance to kill him, but he’d won in the end anyway, hadn’t he?

He’d turned Nikita into this pathetic, weepy thing. This person who’d break the law for a chance at survival.

“I needed a ticket off planet,” he continued. “Enough coin to at least get by for a couple of days wherever I land. Nothing crazy valuable. Just…enough.”

“Enough to escape?” Ledger hummed as though he understood. But then, the sharp edge of a blade was lifted to the curve of Nikita’s throat. “You’re going to get what you want, Tiger. Just maybe not the way you hoped.”

“Why do you keep calling me that?”

“It’s on the back of your jacket.”

Nikita wasn’t following.

“There’s a tiger lily.”

“Oh.” That. “I forgot.”

The Devil tugged at the jacket lightly. “What, didn’t you pick this out? Twenty is young, but definitely old enough to know how to dress yourself.”

“I got it from the Great,” Nikita admitted.

“The charity shop on the other side of town?” For a moment, it seemed like he was going to make fun of him, but then he made a sound of approval and ran his fingers across the material over Nikita’s heart. “Nice find. Wonder who got rid of something this nice.”

“You can have it,” he offered.

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