Page 162 of Vile Boys

Long black hair followed by a familiar handsome face peeks inside.

“Are you awake, darling?”

Blaine

I bringa bowl filled with strawberries and whipped cream inside. I’m not a great cook, but it’ll be a nice treat for her.

She’s huddled up on the bed like a scared animal hiding in plain sight.

“What do you want?”

I put down the bowl and say, “Brought you some strawberries.”

She swallows.

“Not interested.”

I make a face. “But you haven’t eaten since you arrived here.”

“I’m not hungry.”

“Don’t lie to me, please,” I say. I approach the bed, but she backs away so much that I stop. “I know you’re mad at me.”

“Don’t.”

I frown. Her eyes are laced with fear, and it makes me apprehensive.

She glances at the locked door, and I step back, guarding it.

“Where is my phone?” she grits.

“I took it,” I say. “But it’s safe. I promise.”

“Lies,” she spits back.

“You won’t get it back. Ares’s orders.”

She rolls her eyes like she knew I was going to say that.

But I cannot let her out of this house. No matter how badly she wants to.

Ares’s wishes are my commands. That’s how it’s always been. That’s how it’ll be.

But perhaps …

I clear my throat and place something down on the cabinet, setting the strawberries on top. “I’m not here to hurt you.”

She ignores me completely, wistfully staring out the window like I mean nothing to her. And it hurts.

I throw her a glance and watch her sparkling green eyes with keen interest as they home in on my hand diving into my pocket. “I can’t kill him for you, if that’s what you want …” I take out her knife and place it on the cabinet next to the door, knowing the weight of the burden I’m placing on her. But I know she can take it. After all, she’s the one who’s slowly been wrapping three demons around that cute little finger of hers.

“Now be a good girl, darling, and eat those strawberries.”

ARES

“Glad we could do proper business again,” my father says, shaking the hand of the man in front of us.

“I’m happy to be able to sell my goods to your customers again,” the man says with a gleeful grin, his mouth full of gold teeth. “I’m sure they’ve been ravenous waiting for it.”

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