Page 40 of Bleed for Me

“What the fuck is going on over here?” A familiar voice boomed. I never thought I’d feel relieved hearing that tone, but my shoulders dropped just the same.

My eyes darted to Jordan’s who stood behind Rachel, anger flickering across his face. I was surprised he even bothered coming to my rescue, but beggars couldn’t be choosers. Rachel rolled her eyes, dropping her arm to her side, and turned to face him.

“We’re just having some fun.” I couldn’t see her face, but I could hear her smirk, which was enough to piss me off.

Jordan glanced over at me, his gaze following the trickle of blood running down my cheek before his jaw tightened. “It doesn’t look like Rosalie is having much fun,” he pointed out. “Release her,” he demanded, looking over at Alina who still held me hostage.

With reluctance, Alina obeyed, and I stumbled forward. My heart was beating so loudly, I was sure everyone could hear it.My hand moved up to cup my cheek, the warm liquid sticking to my fingers and palm. Fear was a potent drug. It had the ability to immobilize you in the face of danger, it had the strength to makeyou act irrationally, or to even say things you never would have otherwise. For me, I was frozen. Even though they released me, and I knew I could move, my legs were rooted to the spot.

Jordan glanced between the twins, before settling his eyes on me. “Come,” he ordered.

My breath hitched at his commanding tone, the sound doing things to my body I didn’t even want to contemplate. I hurried over to his side, my heart beating even more wildly than before.

His jaw was coiled with tension as he stared the two girls down, his eyes narrowed on them. I didn’t know why he came to my defense when he clearly didn’t care much about me, especially not after our encounter in Valentine’s office, but I wasn’t about to decline his help.

“She’s off-limits until we’re done with her,” he continued in a low, gravelly voice that sent the hair rising on the back of my neck.

The twins didn’t seem pleased by this one bit, but before they could protest, he wrapped his hand around the crook of my arm and started pulling me down the hallway the way we’d come. His grip was firm as he walked, taking long strides and forcing me to keep up with him with his bruising hold on me.

I had a million questions but couldn’t bring myself to utter a single one of them. When he led me past my room, I snapped my eyes in his direction, but he was exuding danger and violence, so I thought better of commenting on that, too.

He didn’t release me until he was shoving me into the bathroom, my stomach lurching as I glanced around the empty space. He was silent as he drifted over to the sink and turned on the water, checking the temperature every few seconds until it was where he wanted it. When he was done, he motioned for me. Hesitantly, I took a step forward, not sure what he wanted exactly.

Being in here with him feltwrong.He could do anything he wanted to me, and I’d be useless to stop it. It was obvious that he didn’t want me dead, otherwise he would have left me to the evil twins, so that brought mesomecomfort.

When we were side by side, he turned to face me and placed his hands on either side of my waist. My lips parted on a protest, but before I could get the words out, he was lifting me, setting me on the counter. He turned away, reaching for a paper towel and then placed it beneath the water. Once it was damp enough, he moved it toward the soap dispenser, allowing the foamy substance to coat the paper before folding it together and rubbing, making sure it was sanitized.

“What are you doing?” I whispered.

He was silent for a few moments, placing it against the cut on my cheek. A hiss slipped from my lips before he replied. “That glass they used, it was dirty,” he explained, dabbing the towel along the sensitive area where Rachel had cut me.

My eyes found his as he worked. They were blue with a green ring around them. Stubble graced his jaw, giving him a manlier look than his friends. His facial features were sharp, and his dark blonde hair was swept to the side, creating a shadow over his forehead. He was gorgeous.

Licking my lips, his gaze dropped to the movement, causing heat to spread through my limbs. “W-why did you stop them?” I asked nervously.

“Would you rather I have left you there?”

I shook my head, a little defeated that he didn’t give me a direct answer. As if sensing this, his lips twitched in amusement. He continued to dab the wound gently. When he was done, he disposed of the paper towel and helped me off the counter. My shirt rode up with the movement, causing his fingers to brush along my bare skin, making heat pulse deep within my abdomen.

Once my feet were planted on the floor, he released me. “No more walking the halls at night,” he warned me.

I bit my lip thoughtfully before forcing my gaze to his again. “How did you know the glass was dirty?”

“Everything in this place is dirty,tainted. You’d be wise to remember that, Little Trouble.” His lips curled into a smirk; the sight breathtaking just as much as it was infuriating.

I scrunched up my nose. “Little trouble?” I repeated, an obvious question to my tone.

“Trouble has a way of finding you.” Was his only response, which only left me more confused.

My head spun as I mulled over his words. The only trouble I’d encountered since coming here all had to do with a single person—Archer. If it weren’t for him, I’d be flying under the radar with ease. That was another reason I needed to steer clear of him. As captivating as he was, he wasn’t worth all the danger that came with him.

None of them were.

Jordan stood there, completely stunning in appearance. It was a cruel mask, making it easier for him to reel his victims in. The attraction was at the surface of his being, but beneath…he was a cold-blooded murderer with no remorse. It would do me well to remember that. Even as he looked at me now with slight tenderness and amusement, I knew he had an agenda. Just the other day he was glaring at me and hissing out threats. He didn’t want me to die tonight, because that wouldn’t serve his greater purpose. He had something else planned, something I wanted no part of.

Sighing, I stepped away from the counter. “Thanks for not letting me get sliced to death, but I should probably head to bed.” I jutted my thumb in the direction of the exit, not wanting to spend one more moment alone with him. If my theory wasright, he was more dangerous than both Seven and Archer combined.

He cocked his head, the amusement in his eyes flickering out of existence. He stepped forward, invading my personal space. My heart rate increased, and I stumbled backwards, bumping into the counter again. He braced a hand on either side of me, his eyes drinking in the terrified expression on my face.

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