Page 54 of Ravage

I shrug. "Hate and love often toe the same line. Either way, it was one less issue for me to deal with."

Avery folds her arms, straightening to full height. I know she's trying to be intimidating but given the fact I still have to glance down at her, I can't say I'm fazed.

"Everything is for your benefit," she points out casually.

"We've been over this several times now."

"Is that why you kissed me?"

I'm caught off guard by her accusation, the statement coming out of left field. Something curls and tightly clenches inside me.

"Yes," I answer matter-of-factly. "You were making too much fucking noise."

"I don't believe you," she answers smoothly. "If we had been caught, they probably would have let you go."

A smirk tugs on the corners of my lips. "Not every guard is an acquaintance, Avery. Plus, even if they did let me go—you would still have been in danger."

"So, you did it to protect me," she shoots back, popping a hand on her hip thinking she's got me in somegotchamoment.

"Once again, a raging Grey is not on my agenda," I answer, deflecting her silly thoughts. "I'm responsible for keeping everyone in line, you included."

Her face pulls into a frown, clearly not satisfied with my answer—and dare I say it, a littledisappointed.

And that simple little observation makes me feel… guilty.

I've replayed the kiss a dozen times in my mind, telling myself that I needed to do what had to be done in the moment. Like I said to Grey, I have no desire to kiss her again—even with his looming threats.

Despite how much I've convinced myself that it was a tactic, there's still a part of me that craves doing it again.

I have no idea why—and that's the part I hate the most.

My whole existence is centered around staying in control—whether that's a group of people, my mind, or my body. So, why am I struggling with something as ridiculous as a temptation to kiss a woman I've barely even begun to like.

You sure you only just like her?The doubt is frustrating, and I quickly shove it aside, taking back control of the situation.

"Now, the cell phones—"

I fill her in with the rest of the information, ensuring she knows who is allocated to what number on speed dial and helping her set a passcode.

When we're done, I check the time, expecting Grey to return any minute now with Ashwood not far behind. For the first time ever, Grey had volunteered to willingly do a psych session, onthe condition that it was with Elsher. I'm oddly excited for him to report back—hopefully by the time Grey is finished with him, Elsher will need a strait-jacket. Or a casket.

To my knowledge, Ashwood was off enjoying the quiet. Heshouldbe in his room but I asked Byrone and Jillian to set him up with in-and-out access like the rest of us. I've accepted him as an ally now, so to ensure everyone is available and freely able to move, I've granted him that luxury.

But not Avery.

I don't like the idea of her potentially walking around on her own free-will when she's still a fresh target. For now, keeping her locked up is better than letting Arthur's goons get their grubby hands on her again. At least with the current plan, she's locked away in the evenings, with us watching nearby. And now she has the cell to communicate with us.

We need to call for another meeting to work out the next steps. We don't have long before things shift again. There's too much silence for my liking.

That also means we need to fill the others in on Ashwood's adventure yesterday. But I plan on disclosing that information to Avery once the other two arrive, rather than springing it on Avery during a meeting. She's likely to lose her shit and it's better if we can control that in a more intimate setting.

"Your boyfriends should be here shortly," I say teasingly, sitting down on my usual chair at the end of the chair.

Even in the almost empty room, the air still crackles with electricity. Avery senses it too, lingering next to the table, but she just nods, walking slowly toward me.

She surprises me when she sits on the end of the desk next to my hand, legs dangling off the side.

"So…" she starts, quickly getting stuck on her words.

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