Page 51 of Deadly Little Games

“Take her home. I’ll finish off here,” someone says from close by.

Someone grabs me under the arms, pulling me up. My knees buckle, and I fall, but he catches me and pulls me into his chest. I look up, and Hazen’s blue eyes stare back at me. He pulls me closer, and I relax into him. The fight within me is gone.

“I’m taking you home,” he says.

“No, I can’t go there.” If Mom sees me like this, she will freak, and I haven’t liked being there without Alec. Too many memories.

Hazen’s chest rises and falls against my ear.

“Take her to mine,” Gage says from somewhere behind us.

“No! I’m not going anywhere with you. Where’s Amirah?”

“Shut her up,” Gage growls, and I want to punch him, but all my energy is gone. I melt further into Hazen’s chest and my eyes close.

I must fall asleep because when I wake next, I’m in Gage’s bathroom. Hazen places me on the edge of the vanity, but I don’t want to turn my head and catch a glimpse of my own reflection. My arms are drenched in blood, its metallic scentfilling the air.

Moving between my legs, Hazen lifts my head by running his finger along my jaw. His eyes clash with mine.

“I’d kill that fucker again and again for touching you like that,” he says, his gaze intense.

Swallowing hard, I can’t help but notice the undeniable truth etched across his expression.

“I know,” I sigh out, and he runs his thumb over my cheek.

“Now, let’s get you cleaned up. That fucker’s blood needs to go.”

As I ease myself down off the vanity, Hazen’s hands glide over my stomach and my scars. I suck in a deep inhale, and he meets my gaze. He leans down, peppering kisses over my scars, and my heart swoons. He comes back up, pressing a light kiss against my lips as he raises the fabric of my bralette. Just as I turn around, he deftly unhooks the clasps, and I let it drop to the floor. Next, my denim skirt is gone along with my underwear.

The shower turns on and I spin around, getting an eyeful of Hazen’s cock. I swallow hard—fuck. I shouldn’t be seeing it, let alone lusting after it. My head is spinning with what happened tonight, and I feel like I’m drowning in a whirlwind of emotions. I want to leave because of what they did. After chasing away my only lead, they killed that guy without hesitation. He deserved it for what he did to me—but still.

I enter the walk-in shower with Hazen, and the drain soon fills with red-tinted water, the distinct scent of blood permeating the air. Collapsing against the tiled wall, I hold myself tight as tears blend with the flowing water.

Hazen remains silent as he reaches for a loofah and body wash. He approaches me and begins to wash the remaining blood from my skin. I don’t move, frozen in placeas I allow him to clean me. Tracing my jawline, his fingers guide my gaze up to his piercing blue eyes. His tongue touches his lips.

“I’m sorry,” he whispers, then his lips gently claim mine. Before I can comprehend what’s happening or kiss him back, he pulls away and rests his forehead against mine.

“Why?”

“Maybe one day you will understand why we have to do what we do, but until then you have to trust me. Okay?” He eases back further, but his hand remains on my chin, and his thumb comes up to rest on my bottom lip.

I open my mouth, but nothing comes out. I can’t trust him or them. Trust doesn’t come easy to me when I’ve spent my whole life being betrayed by people around me, including the one person who’s meant to be there for me no matter what. I can’t. The only people I trust are Alec, Kai, and Amirah.

“Where’s the guy from the alleyway who had information for me?” I ask, and Hazen shakes his head.

“I’ll deal with him—don’t worry about it.”

I shake my head. “I want the information he has.”

“And you’ll get it once I’m done with him,” Hazen says just before a door slams shut somewhere nearby, and he pulls back, taking his warmth with him. There’s someone shouting outside the bathroom.

“Fuck,” Hazen bites out, stepping out of the shower and wrapping a towel around his waist.

Gage bursts into the room, slamming the bathroom door behind him. He looks at my dripping-wet, naked form, licks his lips, and my legs instinctively close. I’m disappointed by how my body responds to him.

“You have about fifteen seconds to get out before Amirahstorms in here.”

I step out of the shower and receive a fluffy white towel from Hazen. I quickly wrap the towel around my chest, the plush fabric soft against my skin.

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