Page 25 of Depraved Desires

A huff blew out through her parted lips. I didn’t know what would happen when me and her inevitably had a conversation. I knew that dating her was out of the question, but I was kind of just going with the flow. She was a headache I didn’t need right now.

Finally, her face contorted with white, hot rage as she leered over me. “You’ll regret breaking up with me,” she hissed. Turning on her heels, she stormed out of the room, leaving me to my thoughts.

Technically, she broke up with me. I just refused to take her back. There was only so much a person could take.

My limbs were sore from the lack of exercise they’d endured. My chest heaved due to the adrenaline still pumping through me and sweat coated my skin as if I’d been doused in water. Despite my horrible shape, I still managed to win the fight.

The crowd was still cheering, hungry for blood as I made it back to my seat, settling in between Collin and Myles. The bastard still hasn’t fessed up to where he’s been all day, but at least he was here now.

I nudged Collin with my elbow, causing him to turn his head in my direction. “Where have you been?” I queried. We’ve already asked him this at least three times since we found him here, he was vague with every response he gave.

Guilt twisted his features, and he parted his lips to speak, but before he could, his name was called through the speakers. He snapped his head toward the arena, tension careening up his spine. Rolling his shoulders, he stood.

Collin looked like absolute shit; I was surprised he even decided to show up. Dark circles painted his eyes, his skin was pale, his hair was a mess, and he walked like it physically pained him.

Grabbing him by the wrist, he stumbled a little before regaining his balance. “I can’t let you go out there like this,” I hissed. “You’re unwell.” If he went out there looking the way he did right now, he’d be laid out flat in two minutes. Maybe less.

“I’m fine.” He attempted to jerk his arm from my hold, but it was useless. He was way too weak, proving my point. I arched an accusing eyebrow which just seemed to annoy him further. “If I want to go out there, let me,” he snapped back. “I don’t need you or Foster mothering me.”

My gaze slid over to Foster. His jaw was clenched but when his eyes met mine, he gave me a slight nod. Sighing, I released Collin and watched with bated breath as he approached the arena and slid through the ropes sloppily, not having an ounce of balance in him. This wasn’t going to end well. Especially since he was up against Rocky of all fucking people.

They both stood in front of their chosen corners. Collin already looked defeated and by the evil look on Rocky’s face, it looked like he didn’t give a shit.

When the whistle blew, Rocky was the first to move. Soon, they were dancing around the box, baiting each other. My gaze zeroed in on Barlow’s mouth, but I couldn’t make out shit hewas saying. My anxiety was skyrocketing as I watched the scene unfold. On a good day, Collin was a decent fighter. Rocky was better. This, however, would not be one of Collin’s good days. He was going to lose; the question was, how badly?

When Rocky got close enough, Collin punched him in the arm. Even from here, it looked like a weak hit. Groaning, I let my head fall back, not wanting to watch this play out. Unfortunately, I had to.

“We shouldn’t have let him do this,” I snapped, looking over at Foster. “He’s going to end up in the hospital.”

Foster nodded. “He’s doing this on purpose. He wants to lose.” Inclining his head to the fight, I took the invitation and looked once more.

This time, I paid special attention to Collin’s movements and realized Foster was right. He was toying with him, trying to piss him off enough to beat his ass. My hands clenched into fists within my lap and my breath hollowed out when Rocky finally hit him with an uppercut. Blood went flying through the air as Collin fell back against the rope, a manic laugh tumbling from his lips.

Rocky didn’t stop there. The southern asshole cornered him, sending punch after punch to Collin’s face and ribs at an immeasurable speed. Collin didn’t fight back, not once; he just took it.

Whatever had been said to Rocky, must have really gotten under his skin because I don’t think I’d ever seen him this merciless before. With one final punch to the face, my best friend collapsed, not moving a muscle. Blood stained the floor he was sprawled out on, and panic seized me as Monroe rushed to check for major injuries.

Within minutes, Collin was being hauled out of the building on a stretcher, making it harder to breathe.

CHAPTER NINE

Aspen

My skin burned from the tattoos Rocky had talked me into getting last Friday and the urge to scratch them was very tempting. A giant, red rose covered my ass cheek where Myles had carved his name into my flesh. The memory of his knife against me bulldozed to the forefront of my mind. I still haven’t made sense of my emotions from that day. Warmth spread through my body, and I clenched my thighs together.

Cut it the fuck out, Aspen. He raped you twice, helped kill your best friend, and had a hand in your demise.

What the fuck was wrong with me? These guys made me feel a mixture of emotions I never expected. The hot and cold tug of war was exhilarating as much as it had been infuriating.

My mind flashed to Foster where his name had been imprinted beneath my left breast. A red rose with a dagger through it sat there now followed by black ribbons stretching from it on either side. Foster had been the one who irritated me most. There was just something about him that always managed to get under my skin, and for some reason, I didn’t always hate that either. Foster was controlling, infuriating, sexist, degrading,and everything I hated in a person. Despite my issues with him however, he was also loyal to those he cared about. He was logical, careful, and loving. There was more to him that met the eye, but that didn’t excuse all the horrible things he’d done.

Then there was Hunter, who occupied the other side of my ass before it was tatted over. Now, it was a spider web extending up my hip with blood laced within it. I wasn’t sure what had happened to Hunter over the short span of time I’d known him, but something in him snapped.

Finally, there was Collin. The boy who managed to capture my attention in only a few days of my arrival. He was blinded by loyalty and would do whatever he needed to in order to keep his selected family. Even if what they wanted him to do was rape and murder. In place of his name was a phoenix with fire surrounding it. The creature was symbolic. Like a phoenix, I rose from the ashes and my tormentors would soon meet their demise.

My skin was blotchy and red as the skin surrounding my new tattoos attempted to heal. The artist had given me strict instructions on how to clean them and warned me not to scratch them.

When a knock sounded at the door of the room I was occupying for the time being, my head snapped in that direction. Since Caroline’s drunken outburst last week, I’ve made it my mission to avoid her.

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