Page 158 of Dance of Ruin

A voice I can’t quite place whispering something I can’t really hear.

Then it’s gone. Like always.

Most of the time, Idon’twant to know anything about the childhood I can’t recall. I remember enough of the shadows that I’m sure it was nothing good.

I blink again, frowning as I glare through the lights toward Nico.

Yeah, nothing good about my present situation, either.

Nico bursts from behind the blinding lights, surging into me and slamming another fist into my jaw.

“Fuck you!” I roar, dribbling more blood. “Cut me loose, you fuckin’ pussy!”

“I don’t think so,” he murmurs, circling me again. “As tempting as it would be to kick your ass man-to-man and wipe that fucking smile off your face.”

“Does itlooklike I’m fuckin’ smiling, jackass?” I mutter.

“It looks like you’re starting to realize how fucked you are,” Nico tosses back.

“What the fuck this is? I mean I like to play rough, but one, I don’t fuck my friends’ sloppy seconds, and two, you aretrulynot my fucking type. Way too straight.”

“I don’t want to fuck you, you fucking idiot,” Nico spits.

“Good, because trust me, princess, you arenotready to bottom for someone like me?—”

Yeah, that’s anotherentirelyexpected punch to the face. Still, it doesn’t stop the snarl of rage from bubbling up inside me as blood gushes from my mangled lip.

Fuck this.

I can fight. I mean, I grew up in the foster system in New York. I can get down in the dirt and dole out some fucking hurt if I have to. But this shit—whatever the fuck this shitis—is different.

It brings up memories of other kids in the group homes pinning me down so they could get their licks in.

That’s not fighting, like this isn’t. That’s just poking the fucking tiger through the bars of its cage and calling yourself a hunter.

“You think this is funny?” he growls.

“I mean, notha-hafunny,” I mutter. “But, you know, existentially?”

Another punch, right to my abs. I grunt, doubling over as much as I’m able to, tied to the chair as I am. When I look up into his eyes, a sense of dread and coldness rips down my spine.

Fuck. He’s really not playing. But I have no idea what thefuckany of this is about. What, just because we got into it before? He doesn’t strike me as the fragile ego type. Then again, he did go all fucking aggro on me about…

My brow wrinkles. “Is this about…Naomi?”

His face darkens again.

“Wait,” I spit. “Before you fuckin’ hit me again, justwait. Nico, I seriously have no idea what the fuck I’m doing here. Is it a jealousy thing?! How many times do I have to tell you, I’mnot interestedin your girlfriend. She’s like a goddamn sister!”

He looms over me as his eyes pierce into mine.

“This isn’t about jealousy, Vaughn. This is about answers.”

“Regarding?”

His eyes narrow. “Why don’t you tell me about the Marquis.”

I stare at him. He stares back.

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