Page 55 of Don't Look Away

“Is that what happens every time?” I ask, pulling my t-shirt over my head, wincing when the fabric makes contact with the skin on my back. “One of the Sons fucks the initiate? That’s the sacrifice?”

She shrugs, holding out my jeans. “It’s a little different for everyone. But the general ritual is the same.” Her brown eyes flick up to meet mine. “Are you okay, though? I mean really?”

“Um, yeah. I mean, I knew Roman didn’t want me to do it, and I knew he’d be pissed when he found out. But he was supposed to be gone for several hours, and all of this was supposed to be said and done by the time he returned.”

The guys thought he’d gone up north for the day, but that obviously didn’t happen. He was much closer to home than they realized.

Someone knocks on the door.

“We’re not done in here,” Ashley calls out, then looks at me with a shrug. “They need to put their robes away, but it won’t kill them to wait.”

I smile. “Thanks.” I take my jeans from her hand and pull them on. “And just so you know…I’m not pregnant.” I don’t know why I feel compelled to say that. I’m just bothered that Roman blurted it out in front of everyone. It’s just one more of the many violations that took place in that room. “I mean…I don’t really know yet, but I’m pretty sure…”

Ashley just nods silently, like she’s uncomfortable with my frankness.

There’s another knock on the door, this one more persistent. “Is Lux dressed?” It’s Lucas. “I need to talk to her. Now.”

Ashley glances at the door, then at me, as if asking me what I want her to say. And much as I’d like to send Lucas away, I’m going to have to face people eventually, so I give Ashley a nod.

“Fine, just a second,” she calls out with a sigh. Then she squeezes my arm. “I’ll hang around in the study if you need me.”

“Thanks,” I say with a faint smile.

She walks over to the door and yanks it open. “She’s all yours,” she says. “Butbe nice.”

“I’m always nice,” Lucas says, skirting past her.

Once Ashley is gone, he shuts the door behind him.

“I need to make this quick. If Roman finds out I’m in here alone with you, I might as well kiss my nuts goodbye.”

I push out a breath and lift my hands. “Then you’d better spit it out.”

“I was talking to the guys, and it might be a good idea if you crashed somewhere else for a few nights. Just until Roman calms down.”

I freeze for a minute, not sure what to say. Roman’s best friend is telling me it might not be safe for me here tonight. I know how brutal Roman can be. Images of a bloody Tyler immediately flood my mind. “Are you saying you think Roman might hurt me?”

I never even considered that possibility. Roman is obviously pissed, and I’m not looking forward to the argument we’re bound to have when I see him next buthurt me?No. I won’t believe he’s capable of that.

Lucas shrugs. “We’ve never seen him this angry, and…” He shakes his head. “There are things in his family’s past—” He cuts himself off, like going there isn’t a good idea. “It’s just a precaution. In a couple of days, all of this will blow over.”

I can tell he wants to be as vague as possible, but my focus snags on something he said. “What about his family? What do they have to do with any of this?”

Lucas glances down and shakes his head, like he’s sifting through the facts, and trying to decide what to tell me. “Roman would never hurt you intentionally, Lux. I know that.”

“Intentially?” I blink, my heart crawling up into my throat. “What’s that supposed to mean?”

Is he implying some kind of undiagnosed mental health issue? I really haven’t seen any evidence of that. I mean, aside from Roman’s need to control everything and everyone on the planet. And his abrupt mood swings.Andhis tendency toward violence…

Wait. Shit.

Lucas sighs, and there’s a finality to it like he’s done answering questions. “Give us some time to talk to him. In a couple of days, everything will be fine, and we can carry on as one big happy fucking family.”

His phone pings, and he glances down at it. “Oh, good. Wyn said you can stay with her.”

They contacted Wyn? Oh, fuck. She’s going to be pissed at me, too. She told me not to go through with initiation, and I blatantly ignored her. Now I get to hear “I told you so” for three days straight. Perfect.

I blow out a breath. “Okay, if you guys think it’s best. I don’t know what I’m going to tell Roman, though. He’s going to want to know why I’m not here.”

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