Page 30 of Promises in the Dark

“Jackpot,” I whispered, my fingers itching to grab them.

It was like stealing candy from a baby, except this candy was the garb of a Muslim woman.

“Put these on,” I commanded, thrusting the abaya and niqab into her hands.

She glared at me for a second before slipping into the abaya. Watching her pull it over her head, I couldn’t help but stare. Fucking hell, even covered up, she was killing me. The way her clothes fit on her body, she might as well have been wearing nothing at all.

My eyes trailed over every inch of her, imagining what it’d be like to rip it all off. The way her tits swelled under the cloth, the outline of her thighs—I was hard as a rock just from looking.

I swallowed hard, forcing myself to look away before I did something stupid.

“Let’s move,” I managed to spit out, trying to shake off the fire building inside me.

I led the way, every nerve on edge, ready to tear apart anyone who got in our path. The streets were a fucking nightmare—years of war and decay clinging to every inch. Filth everywhere, the stench of rot thick in the air. The city was like a damn graveyard, and we were the only living things creeping through its guts. Every step felt like walking through hell.

I glanced back at Red. Her face was pale, fear written all over it, her green eyes wide and filled with panic. Her lips parted like she was about to scream, her breathing ragged and shallow. I couldn’t tell if she was scared of me or the shit out there waiting for us, but either way, I squeezed her hand tighter. I wasn’t about to let her fall apart on me, not now.

Her nails dug into my skin, clinging to me like I was her lifeline. I could feel her heart racing, her breaths hot against my neck.

“Stop looking like I’m about to lead you to your death,” I grunted with a smirk.

Her gaze hardened, and she squared her shoulders, pissed off now instead of scared. “What the hell do you want meto do?” she shot back, clearly not taking my comment well. “You want me to smile? Laugh? I’m terrified!”

I kept quiet, letting the wind blow through the empty streets for a moment before stepping up closer, until my face was inches from hers.

“Stop acting like a little girl, Red. This is what you signed up for.” Her arms crossed tight over her chest, her expression going from fear to straight-up fury. Her face turned red as she stepped forward, her fists clenched and her expression pissed.

“Excuse me?!” She leaned in, getting right up in my face. “I didn’t sign up to be your personal punching bag.”

I couldn’t hold back a faint smile. “Of course she’d turn this into a gender issue.”

Red looked like I’d slapped her. “You are such a dickhead.”

I rolled my lips together into a snarky grin as I replied with a tinge of condescension in his voice, “What was that? I can’t hear you over the sound of me being right.”

She let out a heavy sigh, shaking her head as she looked up at me. “I hate you, Rogue.”

I raised an eyebrow, the slightest hint of a smile flashing across my face as I studied her with an icy glare. “Did I hit a nerve?”

She scowled even harder, her fists clenched at her sides. “It’s not just one nerve. It’s the damn nerve center,” she seethed.

I chuckled darkly. “Is there something you want to share with the class, Doc?” I goaded, unable to hide my amusement as she continued to fume.

“Nothing you’d ever understand,” she spat back, her voice cold enough to freeze ice.

Before we could tear each other apart, the sound of shouting and screaming ripped through the air, interrupting our argument. Me and Red both paused, our gaze darting around forwhat was causing the commotion. The shouts grew louder, and my eyes widened as I recognized the voice of a woman.

“Oh, for the love of...” I swore, glancing around.

I grabbed Red’s arm and dragged her behind a jagged stone wall, barely enough to shield us. Our bodies pressed tight together, both of us desperate for any cover we could get.

“Goddamn it,” I muttered, more to myself than her. “Stay low.”

My hand reached out and grabbed hers, not out of love or friendship, but more like a last-ditch effort to keep her from getting us both killed.

Instinctively, I pulled Red closer to me, my arm wrapping tightly around her waist, our bodies touching in a way that would make any other day feel illicit. Now, however, it felt like survival.

“We’re screwed, aren’t we?” Red asked, sounding defeated and exhausted.

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