Page 88 of Beautifully Wounded

“You don’t have to. I’m sorry I made you.”

“You didn’t make me. You encouraged me, and you were right. I feel a bit lighter.”

“Jesus, any lighter and you’ll blow away on the breeze.” He jokes, the long facial hair on his upper lip quirking up with his smile.

“I’m sorry you got lumped with me and my problems,” I admit, feeling the niggle of being a waste of space creep in again.

“Don’t talk like that. I’m glad Lexi called me. I just wish she’d done it earlier. Like a year fucking earlier.”

“In her defence, she had no idea what was really happening. She still doesn’t know. I’ve never told anyone else what I told you, and honestly, I never want to say the words again.”

“Then you won’t have to.” Hedeclares, easing back to give me more space. “But there’s one thing I need from you. Not now, but before the lockdown lifts.”

Curious, my brows shoot high. “And what’s that?”

“I need the names of the six guys. Not spoken, but written down, and if you have their addresses, then I’ll take that too.”

“Are you really going to…”

“Fuck yes I am. And I get it if you don’t want me to. You’re a good person, Angel. I don’t expect you to agree with my methods, but the fact of the matter is, they don’t get the privilege of going to prison and having a trial. They don’t get to breathe and live full lives. In fact, the remainder of their lives will be so fucking bad, they will beg for death.”

A shiver ripples up my spine, and prickles of electricity tingle over my skin from head to toe. His eyes are fierce and are nothing but determined and I feel so alive at his words that I almost wonder if perhaps I should check myself? Remind myself to pull my head in and manifest the good parts of me that cried when my friends flooded an ant nest when we were little, killing the innocent insects just going about their day.

I decide, after what I’ve endured, that I’m allowed to feel good about the thought of revenge.

“I’ll have the list for you by the morning,” I tell him, and he nods, satisfied, before he slips his hand into mine and leads me away from the door and over to the bed.

I have no idea what time it is, nor do I care, and I happily slip under the thin blanket we’ve been using despite the sultry nights.

I can’t seem to get warm, my feet and hands feeling the coldest, so when Ringo eases under the blanket too, and reaches for me, dragging mecloser so I can tuck myself into his side, I welcome the warmth. It’s like his touch, the press of his body against mine slowly thaws me out, and before I know it, I drift off to a dreamless sleep.

When I wake next, it’s to the chirp of birds, making the early morning hour almost as loud as the partying going on last night.

Shit.

Last night.

What was I thinking going out there while they were all…

This place, well… it’s different. From my brief time here, I’ve observed a bunch of scary men and a handful of scantily dressed women party like there’s no tomorrow and engage in sex acts fit for an X-rated website.

I know that there’s not a whole lot to do during lockdown, but I get the feeling the way they kill time here is normal, even if there’s no lockdown.

Seeing all that sex has to be the reason why I’m so horny.

Oh man, under different circumstances, if I told Lexi about all of this, she’d be in fits of laughter.

That thought tugs at the corner of my lips, and I pry my lids open to make sure Ringo is still sleeping and not watching me be weird.

Nope.

He’s still sound asleep.

Like I seem to do a lot, I study him while he sleeps. I enjoy seeing this side of the big bad biker who busted into my house and threatened my parents. His expression is so soft while he sleeps. It’s like all the hardness he carries throughout the day falls away, and in its place is this gentle man, or perhaps gentle giant better suits him.

I can’t believe I watched him… wank.

My cheeks flush at the thought, and the ache intensifies between my legs.

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