Page 54 of Run From Me

“I could keep it alive if I tried harder. Anyway, Cali, I guess I’ll see you soon. There’s another show coming up. Or maybe you want to come with me when the boys fight?”

I stepped away from everyone, finally getting my temper under control. It had been years since I’d lost control. Years since I’d nearly drowned in the darkness, but Cas and Zeid made sure I never went there again. The thing was, this woman was digging up something, and I didn’t know what to do.

I watched Cas eye me again. I should leave. I should walk away and let her be. The two days of not calling her had been eating at me, but it was a great skill to have. If I could watch her through the cameras and know she was okay, it seemed like it would all be okay. Except I’d missed Ripple. How in the hell had I missed him?

It was best she hated me.

“I’ll head out in a minute, promise.”

Cas nodded and took Rylee by the hand.

“If I don’t hear from you in thirty, Zeid will be here knocking down this fucking door,” Cas said and stopped at the door. “Cali, you reach out to Rylee if this asshole does anything stupid.”

I watched Cali as she finally looked away from the cat to glance at me. I didn’t like the way her sweet little mouth turned up into a devious smirk.

“I guess I’ll just start dialing the second you leave then.”

Rylee let out a laugh, and I fucking glared at her.

“Really? You think I’ll do something stupid? Who sold their soul to the Vipers?”

Rylee and Cas shut the door, and I wasn’t entirely sure if it was because they hadn’t heard me or just because they didn’t want to be here. They had each other. And me?

I had my fucking kryptonite standing right here.

SIXTEEN

calliope

My entire bodyburned as I glared at the asshole standing in front of me.

“You seriously just went there?”

Xander was menacing on a good day, but the black of his pupils seemed to take over his irises as I let the cat go and approached him. The wet T-shirt I wore was a welcome coolness to the anger burning in me like an inferno of hell.

“You seriously just accused me of selling myself to the Vipers? Do you have any idea why they branded me? Why they brand anyone instead of killing them?”

Xander stepped forward and met me toe to toe.

“No, because I don’t fucking run with those archaic assholes, now do I? I’m guessing you at least played hard to earn that shit,” he spat back.

My entire body was shaking as I tried to reason with myself. Reason? No. More like contain all the anger I’d been holding onto for far too long.

“They branded me because I’m property. Because I never willingly signed up to be part of their little club. They took me from my fucking bed the day after I got the job with the city. I hadn’t even moved out of the house my mother was squatting inwith me. No. I’d come home to pack up anything that was still there and woke up to a bag over my head.”

He wasn’t talking, which was a first.

“What, Xander? You don’t have anything to say now? You don’t have words of pity for the poor girl sold out by her mother? The poor girl who hasn’t had freedom in years? The poor girl who gives up almost everything she earns to pay off debts she never racked up?”

I lifted the corner of my shirt, displaying the low set of my pants that allowed the brand to be clearly displayed.

“Don’t worry, Xander. You won’t have to worry about this anymore. I know my place. Thanks for the fuck and helping me wash my cat. It was fun to fuck around and find out what it was like to have someone oh so powerful between my legs.”

I took a step forward, forcing him to step back. I was on a roll.

“I just wanted to taste what it was like to have a big bad Spector’s cock. See if it was any better than all those Vipers I’m sure you think warm my bed. I get?—”

I gasped as his hand circled my throat and his lips claimed mine. More like consumed me. The anger burned hotter as his lips owned my mouth. His tongue demanded more from me, and his hand was just tight enough every breath that passed through my lips struggled to make it to my lungs. I wasn’t sure when we’d moved, but my back was now pressed against the wall, and his free hand wrapped around my hip, his fingers biting into my flesh.

---