Page 15 of Stone

She scoffs. “You normally want it open, and now you want it shut. Make up your damn mind, Czar.”Holy shit.Who the hell is she? My eyes flare with outrage and awe.

He throws open the door, shoves us inside what appears to be an office, then slams the door behind us, making me jump.

Evelyn seems completely unperturbed at his outburst, and I have to wonder what life she must lead to not be bothered by his volatile behavior.

“We were having a good night.” She stares down at her nails as if fascinated by them, and truthfully, I’m gobsmacked at her nonchalant behavior.

“Good fucking night?!” Czar looks fit to burst as he tears open the top button of his white button-down shirt and paces the room. “That punch he got in just cost me millions, Evelyn. Have you any idea how my father’s going to react to that loss?”

A flash of fear ripples through me, and I struggle to suck in air, my chest constricting with each attempt. I know exactly who will get the blame for that loss. Czar’s eyes meet mine, and an understanding crosses between us, then his shoulders sag. “You shouldn’t have been here, Si—” He’s cut off by the office door being thrown open.

“What the fuck is she doing here?” Stone’s stormy eyes land on me, guilt swimming in them.

His presence sends butterflies fluttering through my stomach, and I gasp sharply, surprised at how intoxicating his presence is to me. He looks away while I take in every inch of his solid, muscular frame.

Sweat pours off him, and my mouth waters to sample it. His knuckles drip with blood, and I have a sudden urge to kiss his wounds, giving him the affection he craves.

“Take her home. I want to speak with Evelyn,” Czar says, his gaze locked on Stone as he leans against his desk. It’s like Evelyn and I no longer exist while they stare at one another and have a secret conversation.

Finally, Stone nods, then turns, not giving me eye contact, and opens the office door. “Follow me.”

As I chance a glance at Evelyn, she is looking everywhere except at Czar, and my lip quirks. “Will you be okay?” I ask her.

“Stone,” Czar barks out, causing me to jolt, and Stone grips my arm and pulls me through the doorway. His touch burns through me as he rushes us down the corridor.

“Don’t know what the fuck you’re playing at, Sienna,” he says through clenched teeth. The venom in his tone causes me to whimper as he marches us down the corridor. Then he pushes open a door, pulls me inside, and slams it behind us, and the lock engaging has me spinning to face him.

My heart thunders in my chest as nervousness overcomes me. His gaze seethes with hatred, forcing my throat to lock up tight. I step back, and he follows me until I’m flush with the lockers. Then he places his hands above me, caging me in. His thick arms twitch with unadulterated rage beside my head, and anger radiates from him in suffocating waves.

What the hell have I done?

What the hell are they going to do to him? A strangled whine leaves my throat, and I hate myself for showing weakness when he is always so strong.

My eyes latch onto the tattoo on his bicep, and I’m hit with a memory that reinforced his strength in my mind.

Chapter Ten

Sienna

Once again, I tilt my head, trying to figure out who he looks like. He must look like his mother. The young man they say is my father’s offspring sounds and looks nothing like us.

And why does he have so many scars and bandages around him? The nurse said he had burns and that it would have been kinder if he’d died, and the thought alone feels like someone is tearing out my heart.

The cruelty he’s obviously endured has been ongoing for a long time. Some of the scars I’ve trailed my fingertips over are old, as is the ink they’ve used to disguise them. Then the new one on his bicep is new but seems to cover an older piece.

“It used to be a wolf,” he mumbles, and my finger stills on the new ink—a reaper.

“Why did you cover it?” I whisper before following the pattern.

“It taunted me.”

My movement stops, and I turn to face him. His swollen eyes study me as much as I am him. I can feel the heat risingto my cheeks, but I ignore it, determined to see my line of questioning through. He’s far too intriguing for me to become so distracted.

“How?”

“I can’t remember having it and what it stands for. Don said it was a reminder of who I used to be, so until I remembered who that was, it had to stay.”

“He wanted you to remember.” I dip my head in understanding. Interesting.

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