Page 64 of Sorrow

“No,” she says firmly. “What did he say?”

Jaw clenching, I forget Boo’s presence entirely for a few seconds and get lost in her. “They’ve been watching you. He said you look better in black.”

Her eyes narrow dangerously. “And he’d look better in the ground.”

“He will,” I promise. “All of them will.”

Boo takes a long sip of coffee and nods to her. “You know how to use my guns, Sam. Everything will be fine.”

“And she’ll always be with one of us.”

I know that’s not possible every second of every day, but the fact that they specifically pointed out thatIwon’t always be able to protect her has me wanting to handcuff us together.

But protecting her means leaving Boo to fend for himself, and as hooked on her as Iam, he’s still my best friend. They’re all I have. “We have to take them out, Boo. We can’t live like this.”

“You’re talking about murder,” Boo mutters, stepping closer like Samara can’t hear him. “Flat out fucking murder. I’m a cop.”

“Then don’t do anything,” I argue, realizing then that this is something that has to fall to me. I’m the only one who can. “I know you can’t be the one to do it, but I can. All I’m asking is that you do nothing.”

Samara scoffs. “Oh, because you’re going to take on three absolute fucking psychopaths by yourself and win? Those guys burned our house down, Hayes.”

“Good thing I’m not a house,” I deadpan. “You don’t seem to have much confidence in me, Hurricane. This isn’t my first storm.“

And I always find my way.

“There’s a difference between confidence and arrogance, but whatever. Can you tell me about another time you murdered three crazy people without being seriously injured in the process or ending up in jail?”

“Mouthy little shit,” I mutter, stepping in a little closer so only she can hear me. “Careful, Samara. You almost sound like you’re worried about me.”

“I am fucking worried about you,” she says loudly. “Of course I’m worried about you. You can’t risk your life like that, Hayes, I don’t fucking care what the reason is!”

She stomps off toward our room and slams the door, making us both flinch at the sound.

I had a feeling she’d give a fuck about me one day, I just didn’t realize that day was already here. Or maybe I was just pretending it wasn’t.

“Did she just take over my bedroom?” I ask to ease the tension. Boo nods as he bites the inside of his cheek.

“This shit is a mess, Hayes. I’m gonna go see Amaya and see what I can stir up. You’ll take care of her, right?”

“Course I will.”

I always would have, but it’s starting to feel different these days — like I wouldn’t just kill for her because I had to... I’d die for her too.

27

Night falls and Boo leaves, same old story. I side-eye my phone even though it’s been a couple of days since Ricky’s little prank call, expecting it to ring, expecting it to ruin this. I know we shouldn’t be worried about sex right now. We should be out talking to other people fucked over by The Sons, gathering evidence. Doing whatever we can to help Boo out the legitimate way so no one ends up in prison except them.

But I can’t help it, and neither can Hayes. He’s been looking at me all day with this deeply hungry, predatory gaze, deliberately not touching me. Purposefully keeping distance between us like he’s edging himself.

I know what’s coming.

Hayes needs blood, and I bleed the prettiest red.

“Are you done avoiding me now?” I tease, stripping his stolen t-shirt off so I’m standing before him in just my underwear and bra. God, I love the fact that his furnace works. “Or are you going to keep brooding over there all alone?”

Brooding might not be the right word. His short hair looks disheveled and his expression intense, but everything about his body language is relaxed. His legs are splayed wide, his arm slung over the side of the dark grey couch. It somehow looks... powerful.

As if he isn’t intimidating enough, all he does is beckon me forward with two fingers without a word.

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