Page 128 of Striker

He didn’t use to be like this. Reap used to be a little nicer.

“I hope so,” Viper says, making me turn to look at him.

I almost laugh at how his voice turns gentle. He’s erratic, driven by his emotions, and fucking nuts sometimes, but his heart is soft. The little knife he gave Delilah in secret showed everyone what he only ever lets me see.

Viper glances my way, and I avert my gaze back to Striker with the girls in the garden below. Cora laughs again as he pulls Delilah to him and gives her a light kiss. I envy him. Striker’s ability to trust after all he’s been through. I want to trust them. That they will be true to their word and remain with us after this short a time. I’m envious he’s no longer wearing his mask and doesn’t feel like he needs to hide anymore.

I wish I could feel that secure. But Fallon fucked us all up so much I don’t think we know how to trust completely. Trust each other, yes. Trust outsiders? No.

Delilah is loyal to Cora. Cora is loyal to Delilah. But are they loyal to us? We’ll see once things are set into motion.

Viper scoots a little closer, turning to face me. I keep my hands on the rail, my focus on Striker. His boots hit mine and awareness jolts straight to my dick.

Fuck.

Last night, I was surprised when he didn’t come to me after we fucked the girls. He usually does, but maybe he was feeling as out of sorts as I was. We’d fucked them to the point we were mindless, instead of the other way around. If only these women knew what they’d done to us.

Maybe it’s good they don’t.

Stupid things like feelings can be used against us, and I know for a fact this constricting feeling, like a wire wrapped around my lungs, cutting through me every time they're this close, is the dreaded feelings we all avoid. The only people we have ever let close are one another, and even that was nearly broken after Hunter.

God. Hunter.

What would he think of this? Of them? Of Striker down in the gardens with them now, kissing their pretty pink mouths and smiling at their light laughter.

He’d love it. He’d fuckingloveto see Striker’s smile and how just looking at them eases the tightness in his shoulders. Lightens the darkness behind his eyes.

He’d tell us to cherish Cora. Because it’s rare to find someone who can see your darkness and match it with their own, all while showing you the light that lies beyond. Hunter would love that Striker had someone who knew about the darkness he carried because she had lived with it, too.

I wasn’t supposed to hear, but I did. That day, he sat with Cora in her room and she told him about her mother. I had come back in, unable to stay away, and found the camera room empty. Then I noticed Striker in the room with her. Of course, I sat and watched, wondering what the fuck he was up to. To say their conversation was shocking is an understatement.

We researched her past, discovered so much. And we watched them for long, knew so much about them before we set out on this mission, but that part never, never came to light.

Cora’s mother was truly an evil person.

She got what she deserved.

“Are you jealous?” Viper asks.

My eyes snap to his. It takes a minute for the meaning behind his words to sink in.

Not jealous of Striker with the girls…

Of Striker withhim.

Something flashes behind the sea green color, telling me he’d like it a little if I was.

Am I jealous? I don’t know exactly what happened between him and Striker, but it’s about time. I think Striker is the only one who didn’t see what he wanted for years. But amI jealous Striker obviously fucked the mouth of the man I’ve coveted for most of my life?

No. I like the idea of Striker using Viper the way he likes. Just as I enjoy watching Viper lick and suck and fuck our girls. So no, not jealous. Turned on? Fuck yes.

“That you sucked him off?” I ask, shifting so we’re standing face to face. “Should I be?”

His beautiful eyes narrow.

Yeah. He wants me to be jealous. Okay. I can’t deny this man anything. If he wants me jealous that he wants Striker’s cock as bad as he wants mine, then that’s what he’ll get. I wonder, though, what he’ll do if I let Striker face fuck me. Or if I fuck him. The thought sends blood rushing to my cock, making it press against my zipper painfully.

Damn. I glance back down at the girls. My blood heats.

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