Page 44 of Siren's Salvation

She's got that look—the one that says she's about two seconds from exploding.

Sure enough, Siren turns to Zane, her voice low and dangerous. "You know there's nothing I can't stand more than a deadbeat mother."

The venom in her words surprises me.

I've seen Siren pissed before, but this... this is different.

It’s personal.

I file that information away, knowing there's a story there I'll need to uncover later.

Zane's eyes lock onto Siren, his expression a mix of understanding and challenge. "Yeah, and why do you think I told your ass to get in the fuckin' truck?"

The tension in the air thickens, and I can practically feel Siren bristle beside me.

Her fists clench at her sides, knuckles turning white.

I resist the urge to reach out and touch her, to offer some kind of comfort.

This isn't the time or place for that shit.

Siren’s voice is low and dangerous. "You want me to handle this? I've dealt with worse than this piece of trash."

I study Siren's face, noticing the way her eyes narrow, the slight tremble in her lower lip.

Zane takes a step closer, his imposing figure casting a shadow over Siren. "I know you can handle it. That's not the point. You're here because I need you focused, not caught up in your own shit."

I watch the exchange, my mind racing.

What the fuck is going on between these two?

There's history here, something unspoken but clearly understood between them.

Sassy whimpers from her spot on the ground, drawing our attention back to the matter at hand.

"Please," she begs, "I'll tell you whatever you want to know. Just don't hurt me."

I snort, unable to hide my contempt. "Bit late for that, sweetheart. You should've thought about consequences before you started running your mouth."

My fingers itch to grab her, to shake the information out of her myself.

But I don’t.

I might get rough with women, but it’s in a way they desire.

CHAPTER SEVEN

Siren

The memory of my mother, SuSu's, pleading voice on the phone earlier today crashes back into my mind like a tidal wave, and I can feel my blood starting to boil.

My hands clench into fists at my sides as we’re in the middle of dealing with this fucked up situation.

I don't understand people like my egg donor and Sassy.

I just can't fucking understand how that woman has the audacity to call me, begging for money like she has any right to ask me for a damn thing.

Not after what she did to my sister.

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