Page 106 of Depraved Desires

Talissa snorted, the sound coming out similar to a pig. “I’m just curious. Collin is a regular, so entertain me.” Her eyes glistened with malice, the sight unsettling.

Blowing out a breath, I wracked my brain for something to give her. These guys were infuriating at the best of times and lethal at the worst. Myles was a psychopath who ruined my life in more ways than one. He was conniving, patient, calculating, and lacked morality. While I was deeply attracted to him, those things alone weren’t enough to make me dare admit to caring forhim. Then there was Hunter. We haven’t had many encounters. He took the last shred of dignity I had left, leaving me a shattered mess by the time he was done. At least with Myles, I knew what to expect from him. Hunter’s dark side had been a complete surprise, and maybe, that was even more dangerous. Foster hated me with a burning passion that was so potent, it shown within his crystalline eyes. He was probably the most ruthless one of them all—the one who didn’t so much as hesitate before pushing me off that cliff. Lastly, there was Collin. He was probably the one who tugged on my heartstrings the most. He was the only one who had ever been capable of making me feel jealousy. He was as unpredictable as Hunter was, but he was different. His smile lit up the entire room, his presence was electrifying—all of theirs was, and he made me know what it felt like to care about someone other than myself and in ways that were different from how you’d care for a friend.

I remember when they came to the club that night. I’d hurt him intentionally, knowing his ribs were his weak spot after what Rocky had done to him. What I hadn’t counted on was feeling guilty about hurting him. Watching him crumble to the ground in agony sent pain splintering through my chest. Leaving him wasn’t an option. That was the moment I realized that I did care.

Blowing out a breath, I dropped my gaze to my hands. I’d never admitted this out loud before, and however weird it was, I felt comfortable around Talissa for unknown reasons. She might have seemed like a hard ass, but she also felt like home. Was that weird?

“If I had to choose one of the guys who I truly cared for out of the group of them, I’d have to go with Collin.”

Something flashed across her face, but it was gone before I could decipher it. Finally, she nodded. “Just some friendly advice,” she began. “Collin might seem like the best optionbecause he appears to have his head on straight and exerts that charming, golden-retriever energy. But it’s a façade. He’s as ruthless as his friends are and he will chew you up and spit you out without so much of a backwards glance. It would be in your best interest to stay away from him.”

I frowned, allowing her words to sink in. I hated to admit that she was probably right. He’s been so back and forth since I’d met him. From wanting me so badly that he continuously pursued me. He even went against his own friends when he got me out of that cellar. After I finally let him and spread my legs for him, it was like the mask had slipped. He’d become cold and heartless. He had a hand in Raven’s death, my rape and my own attempted death, and then he apologized for all of it, which seemed sincere. But the first chance he got, when I was actively developing feelings for him, he fucked Madison. Next, he fucked Payton. I wasn’t even sure where we stood now.

“I’ll keep that in mind. Thank you.”

She pursed her lips and nodded, seemingly okay with my answer, but also acting like it wasn’t enough at the same time. I didn’t know why she was so interested in the drama I’d found myself wrapped up in.

“You’ll be here tomorrow?” she pressed, raking her gaze over me with an unrecognizable expression plastered across her face.

I bit the inside of my cheek thoughtfully. “Is it okay if I start working Friday through Sunday instead? I’m going to school again and I have a lot of catching up to do.”

“Schoolisimportant,” she surmised. “Those are the days we need you the most, anyways. I’ll make the necessary changes to your schedule. You’re free to go.”

I stood and made my way across the room, slipping out of her office and closing the door behind me. A weight lifted from my shoulders as soon as I was back into the main part of the club.More people had arrived since then, which meant that it was time to hustle.

Rocky picked me up from the club and took me back to the school. Tension was thick between us since our last couple of encounters. He was becoming just as confusing as the guys were.

The night sky blanketed us as we sat in the parking lot of the academy. I wasn’t ready to go back to Monroe’s quite yet, not sure if Caroline would be awake. Instead, I sat quietly, staring out at the massive building sitting a few yards away.

“You found the bottle of pills, right?” he asked, resting his right hand on top of the steering wheel.

“I actually wanted to talk to you about that.” I turned to look at him, shifting my body so that I was positioned in his direction. “I’m?—”

My words were cut off as a loud bang permeated the air, damaging my eardrums in the process. I ducked on instinct and Rocky wasted no time grabbing me and pushing me down into his lap for protection while he leaned over my shaking body.

“What the fuck was that?” I hissed.

My heart raced as another knock sounded against the car window. It sounded like someone was stoning his vehicle or something.

“Someone’s throwing shit,” he growled. “Keep your head down. I’m going out there.”

My heart rate accelerated. “Are you crazy? You don’t even know who it is. What if they’re dangerous?” I snapped in ahushed voice, not wanting the perpetrator to hear me if they were close.

He surprised me, tangling his fingers through my hair and causing my neck to bend backwards. Now definitely wasn’t the time to get turned on, but my body wasn’t getting the memo. Apparently, high-stress situations got me hotter for some reason.

“So am I.”

His lips came down on mine softly, and I immediately parted for him, my breath hitching as his hot breath feathered against my mouth. He pulled away too quickly, making me crave his touch that much more.

When the knocking noise sounded again, it was on Rocky’s side of the car, and much closer than it had been before. Rocky jolted upright and I flinched as we turned to look out his window. A hooded figure stood outside, his face shrouded in shadows, making it impossible to see who it was.

My hand clasped onto his, fear spiraling through me. I didn’t know why this person was targeting us, or what they even wanted. But I did know that they didn’t have pure intentions. That was enough for me. Ever since I almost died, I started carrying a weapon in my backpack for protection. It was my security, and if there was ever a time to use it, that was now.

Rocky started yelling at the cloaked figure, his chest rising and falling with adrenaline, fear, or both. While he was keeping the probable murderer occupied, I reached into my bag, feeling around for my weapon.

The window shattered suddenly, sending glass spraying everywhere. I buckled over, clenching my eyes closed to avoid getting sliced up by the stray remnants of the window. The stranger reached inside, grabbing Rocky by the throat.

As soon as my hand brushed against the handle of my blade, I pulled it free, hiding it on the outer side of my right leg. Rockywas struggling against the person who’d grabbed him, punching anything he could, but the unknown person wasn’t faltering.

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