Page 26 of Promises in the Dark

She hesitated for a moment, but the fire in my eyes must have convinced her. She quickly followed suit, stepping out of the car as I led her towards the trunk.

“Why did we stop?” she asked, looking at me with confusion in her eyes. “I thought this is a dangerous area,” she added with a hint of mocking in her voice.

I clenched my jaw, the annoyance bubbling to the surface. I couldn’t believe her nerve. After everything we had just been through, she had the audacity to mock me for being cautious?

“Oh, so now you’re suddenly concerned about our safety?”

With a rough yank, I wrenched open the trunk, revealing a mess of tools and equipment.

“No need to be an asshole,” she shot back, but I couldn’t care less.

I ignored her, my focus solely on finding something to tend to her annoying wounds that fucked up my mental peace. I dug through the cluttered mess, hoping to find somethinguseful. My fingers brushed against a box, and I snatched it up but as I teared it open, all I found was a pile of useless junk.

“You’ve gotta be shitting me,” I cursed under my breath, tossing the useless box aside in frustration.

My eyes darted around the trunk, desperate to find something useful. But all I got was a bottle of cheap-ass scotch buried under tools and spare parts.

Fuck it.

I twisted the cap off and took a long swig, feeling the burn scorch its way down my throat. It hurt like hell, but at least it numbed the pain ripping through my chest. With every sip, the sting dulled, replaced by a warmth that was starting to feel really good.

It stung like a bitch, but I could tell it was working. My pain seemed to lessen with each sip.

Another gulp, and I felt the fire spread. It fueled something deeper, making me push past the pain. If I couldn’t find medical supplies, I’d make do with what I had.

I yanked a strip from my t-shirt, tearing through the fabric without giving a shit. Soaked it in the scotch, then turned my attention to Red.

“Sit your ass in the open trunk,” I said without even looking at her.

She obeyed, lowering herself down into the open trunk and sitting with her legs dangling out of the car. With a gentle yet firm touch, I pressed the soaked cloth against Red’s cheek, using it to clean away the dried blood and disinfect the wound.

As I moved lower to the one on her neck, she winced, pulling back slightly. Her sharp intake of breath told me it stung like hell. But I didn’t apologize, because sometimes pain was the price we had to pay for survival.

“Who gave you that necklace?” I asked, trying to suppress my annoyance.

I continued to clean the wound, this time trying to be as gentle as I could. With each touch, each goddamn stroke of the cloth against her soft skin, I couldn’t help but notice how it feels, how it made me crave more of her. The scent of alcohol and the faint hint of her perfume mingled in the air, creating a strange concoction that stirs something deep within me. This wasn’t my usual territory. I wasn’t accustomed to being gentle or showing any care.

Nor did I want it to be.

“My father,” she replied, her eyes meeting mine briefly before darting away.

Great. Daddy issues.

Just what I needed. But those green eyes of hers? They did something to me. Something I couldn’t shake off, no matter how hard I tried. I shoved that thought down deep, hiding it behind layers of self-control.

“Well, your father must be really proud to see his little girl end up like this,” I sniggered, rolling my eyes.

Red glared at me as if she was trying to figure out whether or not was I truly serious about what I’ve just said. She suddenly stood up, her fiery gaze fixed on me.

“Who the hell do you think you are talking to me like that?” she spat, angry at me.

I remained unfazed, even smiled a little at her reaction. “I’m the one who kept you alive,” I reminded her.

I towered over her, using my height to make my point. But despite her smaller frame, her gaze held a dangerous intensity that sent a thrill of arousal through me.

My eyes hungrily roamed over her chest, and goddamn, I couldn’t help but imagine my hands on those perfect tits. Her shorts barely covered her ass, leaving her legs out for me to ogle. The sight of her, vulnerable and exposed, sent a surge of heat straight to my aching groin.

God, she turned me on.

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