Page 98 of Reckless: Collision

“Complicated.” The word barely scratches the surface.

“You’ve been hiding.” She shifts topics so fast it gives me whiplash, going straight for the jugular with precision that would make Finn proud.

“No. I’m processing.” The lie tastes bitter.

“That’s bullshit and we both know it.” She rolls her eyes, and it shouldn’t be sexy, but everything about her hits different. Makes the darkness in my head recede and advance all at once.

I could tell her. Tell her about the thoughts that plague me. About how sometimes I lose time, come back with blood under my nails and gaps in my memory. About how I count exits and catalog weapons and plan escape routes even in my own home.

I could tell her how sometimes I wake up screaming, convinced I’m back there, strapped down while they try to fix what’s broken in my head.

I could tell her how seeing her in my space makes me want to destroy everything that could hurt her, including myself.

“You want to know why I’m really processing?” The darkness claws at the edges of my mind, demanding to be heard. Because she looks too fucking perfect in that chair. Too comfortable. Too trusting.

And trust gets people hurt.

Gets them killed.

“Tell me.” Her voice is soft, but there’s steel underneath. She has no idea what she’s asking for.

I stand, needing to move, to put distance between us. “You know we’re on hiatus. That the pack’s been benched.” My hands clench and unclench at my sides. “Want to know why?”

She doesn’t answer, but I can smell the first hints of unease in her scent. Good. She should be afraid.

“We’re the psycho squad.” I laugh, but there’s no humor in it. “The ones they send in when everything else fails. When they need someone who doesn’t mind getting their hands dirty.” I turn to face her, letting her see the monster that lives behind my eyes. “When they need someone who’s already broken.”

Her pulse jumps. I can hear it.

“Last job, six alphas dead. Not injured. Not detained. Dead.” The memories flash through my mind—blood on my hands, bones crushing beneath my fingers. “They were trafficking omegas. Using them for...” I can’t even say it. “Other teams tried to handle it clean. By the book.”

I move closer, watching as she presses back into the chair. “But us? We’re not clean. We’re not by the book. We’re the ones they send when they need the monster under the bed.”

“Jinx...” There’s fear in her voice now. Finally.

“I killed them all. Slowly. Made them feel everything they’d done to those omegas.” The rage of that night burns through me again. “Ryker couldn’t stop me. Finn couldn’t talk me down. Even Theo...” I shake my head. “I came out of it covered in blood, surrounded by bodies, and I felt nothing. No regret. No remorse.”

“This is what you get, Red.” My voice drops low, dangerous. “A psychopath who loses control and leaves nothing but bodies in his wake. Still feel comfortable?”

Her heart is racing now, her pupils dilated. But she doesn’t look away. Doesn’t try to run.

“And the worst part?” I whisper, close enough to taste her fear-spiked scent. “The worst part is that sometimes I like it. Sometimes the violence feels better than control.”

I watch the fear bloom in her eyes, waiting for her to run. Wanting her to run. It’s what any sane person would do.

“Six alphas.” My voice drops lower, darker. “Ripped apart like they were nothing. You know what the official report said?Extreme prejudice.Like that somehow captures what happened. What I did.”

I can still feel it. The way the rage took over, painting everything red. The sounds of bones breaking, of screams cutting off. The complete loss of control that felt like freedom.

“When?” Her voice shakes, but there’s something else beneath the fear. Something like recognition dawning in those green eyes.

“Three months ago. Underground facility outside?—”

“Wait.” She sits forward suddenly, fear giving way to intensity. “Outside the city? Near the old industrial district?”

The question hits me like a physical blow. “How do you?—”

“Server room in the sub-basement.” Her words come faster now. “Security system running on outdated protocols. Hidden cameras in rooms labeledspecial merchandise.”

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