Page 12 of Carry Your Debt

“Yeah, we do, actually,” I finally manage after a harsh swallow.This goddamn acid in my stomach. Maybe I should be finding myself some TUMS instead because forcing down all these confusing sensations only seems to burn like bile.

“It’s…Apollo,” I force out, dipping my chin and glancing at him from beneath my lashes.

I have to bite down on my tongue as confusion, anger and amusement each take turns battling it out across his features—before eventually making way fortrouble-seeking.Seeing his eyes glimmer with that familiar devilment is almost a relief.

There’s just something so off-putting about a serious Dionysus.

I sayalmost, because of course the next words out of his cursed mouth have me wanting to reach for the knife block all over again.

“So inquiring mindsneedto know: Which of the Gray Man’s spawn has the bigger dick?”

A curseon the maker of this goddamn dress, and a curse on their entire fucking bloodline.

“Stop fussing, Sabine,” Zeus snipes from the seat directly across from mine. His expression remains shuttered as he studies his phone, even though I’ve been huffing and puffing and drilling impatient holes into his forehead for the past thirty minutes. When his eyesstilldon’t leave the screen, I decide to take advantage of his distraction and really drink him in.

Decked out in a bespoke tux of the deepest midnight blue, he looks like absolute sin incarnate and my teeth press greedily into my lower lip.There’s just something about a well-fitted suit on an attractive man.

And coupled with that perfectly styled coif and neatly trimmed beard? He’s back to servingWell Put Together Team Lead, and I’m fucking here for it.

It’s not that I didn’t enjoy last night’s quick peek behind the curtain. I mean, the matching set of fingerprint-shaped bruises across the span of both my hips should tell you just how much I did. But so far today, I can’t get a read on him—atall—and now I’m left blithely wondering whether the whole encounter was just a matter of me finally getting a taste of my own medicine.

No X’s, just O’s.

“Youtry sitting down in this thing,” I eventually hiss back, trying and failing for the fiftieth time to adjust my gown’s neckline so that I might be able to take at least one full fucking breath before I perish.

While the dress Dominic delivered to my dorm last weekend is objectively beautiful, I’m convinced its elaborate boning was handcrafted by Lucifer himself. Despite my tits being the reason push-up bras were invented, the bodice is still as immovable and unforgiving as a goddamn steel cage.

“Your father did this on purpose,” I whine when he still doesn’t look at me.

Dionysus chuckles, eyes crinkling with amusement as he watches my continued struggle. He slides his ass down the expensive leather seating, manspreading like the consummate dickhead that he is. One of his deliciously large thighs knocks obnoxiously against mine.

Mmm.Admittedly, another team member of mine who’s looking like he’s been practically gift-wrapped for the masses.

Dio’s tux is a broader-fitting twin to his best friend’s slim-cut fit, and for once, all that perpetually sex-tussled, dirty blond hair of his is slicked back neatly. His jaw’s also remarkably clean of stubble.

I swear, the two of them together are enough to make even the most stoic of angels weep, and for just a heartbeat, a small part of me wonders what might’ve happened if they’d both stayed the night instead of heading back to our Crew’s shared Rox City apartment.

Nah, I tell myself with full confidence,I bet Orbison snores.

Studiously ignoring the small twinge ofwhat if,I roll my eyes at our Enforcer instead.

He grins.

Finally, Zeus straightens, carefully tucking his phone away as he does. “Likely,” he hums, finally deigning to acknowledgethe devilry responsible for my ongoing torment.“He needs you uncomfortable, that way, you’ll stay alert and observant for the full duration of the evening.”

I huff, wishing I could slump back and cross my arms like Dio, but mindful of the layer of heavy-duty makeup concealing my expansive back and shoulder tattoos from prying Roxborough eyes.

I knowexactlyhow his father’s twisted mind works.

I am his favorite pet project, after all.

Knox, seeing me start to squirm at the mention of Sebastian, leans over and gently pats my hand.Bless him.I offer the big teddy bear a small but genuine smile.

Before I can muster a clap back, however, Zeus shifts again. This time it’s to cross his legs. Long fingers interlock across one knee, his deep blue gaze sweeping carefully across our group.

I instantly swallow my retort.

Here we go.