Page 60 of The Masks She Wore

?The first man who touched my girl and I couldn’t even fucking kill him. God must have been laughing at us. Mocking us. Karma for a life of doing what we did, I supposed, but even God had no idea the boundaries we would push if we were brought to it.

?With a sneer, I walked over and grabbed one of her monster-porn’s from the shelf and fell into the couch. Bit of light reading then. Anything to take my mind off the rage simmering under my skin.

?It took an hour and a half for that door to open again.

?When she walked out, her hair was done, falling in soft waves around her face, which was also done. Makeup covered her sothoroughly, that I could see no signs of bruising.

?She opted for a pair of high-waisted straight jeans and a black tank top with a wool knit, off-white sweater over it that had been slightly tucked in at her waist.

?Her expression was cool, empty, and when her eyes flicked to mine, they hardened, such hatred flaming in their depths, I fought the urge to pick her up and throw her back in that bedroom. She blamed me for this? For what he had done to her?Why? Because I didn’t protect her? Because I wasn’t here? Because I made her vulnerable? What excuse would she give me?

?But maybe it was my fault. I had yet to officially claim her as mine, but even so, I had spoke the words to Malachi. Itwasmy job to take care of her. I suppose I had failed, but that didn’t give her a right to look at me like I had been the one to do it against her will because God knew she would have liked it. She would have begged for more had it been me.

?Despite my own irritation, I let her be, watching as she walked. Her back wasn’t as straight as it usually was, her shoulders curved in a bit, her gait stiff.

?I met her glare with one of my own. “Couldn’t get off in the shower without me, Princess?” I asked in a clipped tone.

?She shook her head, heading for the kitchen, uncaring that there were two of us here now. That we could kill her without trying. “No, just realizing how ugly you must look under that mask if youconstantly keep it on. Unsightly, some might say.”

?I snarled under my breath. I knew she was angry, on edge, but I also knew she loved pressing buttons.

?“I made everyone a meal,” Malachi announced as I pushed up from the couch, set the book down, and turned towards the kitchen.

?He had spent the entire hour and a half making a beautiful meal from scratch. It was too bad the only meal I wanted sat between the legs of a woman overflowing with fucking attitude at the moment.

?Rae walked up to the counter and sat down in front of the plate Malachi presented her with. Homemade pasta, chicken, and veggies, all tossed with a homemade sauce.

?She picked up a fork and took a bite, her spine rigid as she chewed, Malachi watching her intently, studying her, probably asking the same questions I was.

?Do you know the truth, Rae?

?She had to know the truth. Those scars across her body, there was no way she didn’t remember getting those.

?Seconds passed before she swallowed. “Is this poisoned?” she finally asked.

?I pressed my lips into a thin line. “You weren’t sure if it was poisoned, and you still took a bite?”

?“It seemed like a great last meal,” she replied, her tone dripping in sarcasm.

?I joined her as she stabbed into a piece of chicken. Her eyeslocked with mine as she lifted her fork to her mouth and slid it in, chewing it slowly. “Is it poisoned?” she asked again.

?She was being reckless on purpose. I was sure what Max had done didn’t give her a death wish, but maybe she was trying to make a point to herself. That it wouldn’t bother her, that she wouldn’t allow it to bother her, and she was overcompensating because of it.

?“No,” Malachi answered as my eyes narrowed to slits. “How does it fare?” he asked, angling his head. “I regret to admit that I haven’t cooked a meal for my family in quite some time. I might be out of practice.”

?Quite a long time. In fact, I couldn’t remember the last time all of us were in the same place at the same time. There was always one or more of us off on assignment. I didn’t care for ‘family dinners’, but I knew he liked them. Maybe one day we could all get together again, have a real family dinner.

?Although I truly didn’t see that happening any time soon.

?She watched me until she swallowed before turning back to Malachi. “Best thing I ever tasted.”

?She was testing me.

?He beamed. “Good! Now, I suppose introductions are in order, hmm? I am Malachi Adler, you may call me as such, and this is my son.”

?Rae held out her hand, careful not to bend her spine, taking Malachi’s hand firmly. “Nice to meet you, Malachi.” She took herhand back and found my eyes. “Son.”

?My lip curled. I was going to fuck this attitude right out of her. “What’s wrong with your back?” One chance to tell the truth. Just one.

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