Page 239 of Vile Boys

“Are you okay?”

I nod a few times. “I’m not injured.”

Ares narrows his eyes. “Did any of them touch you?”

I shake my head, a blush creeping onto my cheeks because he’d even think to ask about my well-being.

“Good. He puts the car into reverse and slams the gas pedal. “I would’ve hated myself for ending their lives without cutting off their dicks and balls first.”

CALEB

I breathe a sigh of relief when we’re finally back at Tartarus House.

We were so close to losing Crystal forever that I still can’t believe it.

I glance at her, but her gaze evades me, almost as if she can’t bear to look at me without questioning her own heart and why it so easily gave itself away to me. To us.

But maybe we were all lying to ourselves when we believed this could just be flesh against flesh.

Suddenly, her fingers touch mine while my hand rests on my lap, and I look her way again. She gently smiles, interlacing her fingers through mine, and it makes me feel so damn fucking good I want to smash my lips onto hers.

But it’s too soon. Too early. Too fresh after all that killing.

She used me for her own gain, pushed her mother into my father’s arms just to get closer to Ares …

I unfurl my fingers from hers and look away, but the soft, breathy sigh leaving her lips doesn’t go unnoticed.

Ares parks the car and opens the door, but the second he steps out he nearly collapses. I immediately jump out and run to him tosupport him under my shoulder.

“I’m fine,” he says.

“Stop lying,” I say. “Let me help you.”

He snorts. “You’re one to talk.”

“Guess we’re both perfect liars then,” I murmur with a grin. “Let’s get you inside.”

I tug him with me, but not before glancing over my shoulder at Blaine and Crystal who just stepped out of the car. Even though she stomped on my heart by admitting to her lies, it still aches for her. And I don’t think anything will ever change that fact.

I’ve fallen in love with not just one but two liars.

Blaine

Crystal looksas pale as snow, and I offer her a hand when she steps out of the car.

“I can walk,” she says, nearly falling over, but I catch her just in time, my palm fitting neatly into the small of her back.

Perfect.

“I … I …” she murmurs, a blush creeping onto her cheek.

I place a finger on her lips. “You don’t have to say anything. I know how you feel.” I smile. “Even though you only wanted me to teach you so you could kill Ares, I knew what I was getting myself into.”

Her eyes flash with surprise. “But Ares didn’t tell you why.” She pauses. “Or did he?”

I swallow and nod. “Ares tells me almost everything, except for the blood on his back, but he doesn’t speak about that to Caleb either. Not to anyone, I think.” I clear my throat. “Regardless, even if I did know, it’s not up to me to tell someone else’s story. It would’ve only fueled the hatred. Something I wish didn’t exist between us.”

She sighs and looks down. “I just … wish I knew what to do.”

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