Page 81 of Tis the Season to be Bullied

The wickedness of this sick, twisted moment feels so fucking right.

My eyelids grow heavy. I lean in, fully expecting Zachary to close the distance and kiss me.

A hand slithers over my ass and wedges between Cassius and me.

And then squeezes.

I yelp with pain. My eyes fly open.

Grim desire gleams in Zachary’s eyes, now so dark green they could be black. His lips part as if he wants to say something.

Someone rattles the bathroom door.

I jump. Everyone spins to face the door.

Another rattle, this one harder than the last.

Then quiet.

Behind me, another drop of water plinks onto the tiles.

“Time to go,” Zachary says.

“Yeah, no shit.” Cassius withdraws, leaving me stranded on the tiles.

I start shivering. Reuben happens to glance at me as he slips his shirt over his head. He moves up beside me and drapes the towel I brought with me over my shoulders.

“How we gonna leave without someone seeing?” Apollo asks, hugging himself as he looks from me to Zachary.

“One at a time.” Zachary looks back at me, and then his eyes move to Reuben.

“Bring her.”

Chapter 28

Zach

My mind’s reeling. I don’t know who rattled the door, but thank fuck they did. Shit was about to get out of hand, and in a big way.

I was so close to losing control, I can still taste mint in my mouth. That would always happen back then when I lost myself in the moment.

We all found ways to deal with the shit we went through. I absorbed everything like a sponge. But there was no one to squeeze me out. That shit stayed inside me and festered into something dark and perverse.

I thought I had a handle on it.

Fuck, I think we all thought that until this girl arrived, all pure and innocent and shit.

Like dropping a mouse into a pit of hungry vipers.

“What are you waiting for?” I click my fingers. “Bring her.”

Reuben blinks like he’s coming out of a trance. Then he scoops up Trinity and throws her over his shoulder.

I take my keys out of my pocket and toss them to Apollo. “Make sure the coast is clear.”

He nods and hustles outside with his broken camera under his arm, leaving the door to swing closed behind him. I happen to look at Cass, and we lock eyes for a moment. I don’t expect guilt or remorse. Most of us aren’t capable of expressing those emotions anymore. What I don’t expect is the brief flash of uncertainty.

I give Apollo a few seconds to check the hallway, and then beckon the guys after me as I make for the door.

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