Page 86 of Ravaged Saints

Dinner is quiet, and the air still feels thick and heavy. Dante and Ethan exchange a few words about the next day’s plans for the stuff the guys are supposed to bring, but my mind is elsewhere, looking at Bryn, her eyes glued to the plate.

I don’t eat much. My stomach feels like it’s in a knot, and nothing can pass through. I get up and start to clean the dishes. Dante offers to help, but I brush him off.

I look out the window. It is dark, and I can see the trees moving in the moonlight. I turn around to see Dante settle on the couch with some papers while Bryn heads downstairs, so I decide to get some fresh air. As I step outside and walk around, I notice the gate is open. That’s odd; the gate is always closed, but I glance around and only see darkness. I pull the gate and close it. If Knox were here, he would be pissed!

Turning back, I spot the underground bunker door ajar. What the hell is going on?

I see the lights on inside, and curiosity pulls me inside slowly, and trying not to make a noise but failing, I walk down the stairs.

Entering the room, I remember being here with Max and what we did, and I feel my cheeks blushing. Jesus, that day was crazy!

Looking around, everything seems to be just as I remember, but there is a green bag on the floor with paper sticking out. Pulling it out, I turn it; it’s a map of the base, labeled, with room names, surrounding terrain, and some numbers that I don’t recognize.

“What are you doing here?” He asks with a low growl.

“I saw the door open… thought Dante might be here.” I stammer and move towards the door, but Ethan grabs my arm, spinning me around and pinning me against the wall. My back presses against his chest as he leans in, trapping me.

“Ethan!” I snap and thrash against his hold, but he doesn’t move an inch.

“You shouldn’t sneak around, princess. It’s not safe.” He whispers into my ear as his body presses harder against mine, his dick on my lower back. “Hmm, you smell so good. When are you going to let me have a taste?” He whispers, his tongue tracing a line along my neck, and my breathing picks up; Cash comes to mind. I will cut Ethan’s throat if he touches me!

“Aspen?” Dante’s calls from upstairs, and Ethan instantly releases me, stepping back, and I let out a shaky breath. My entire body is shaking.

“Go on,” Ethan says, nodding towards the stairs with a wicked smirk. “We’ll play another time.”

I don’t waste any time, and I rush up the stairs, feeling my stomach turn. I slam into a hard chest and gasp, “Hey, doll, easy,” he says, steadying me with his hands, his eyes searching my face, concern etched in his expression.

“Did he try anything?” Dante asks, gripping my shoulders and pulling me back to study me.

“No, he just startled me. I thought you were down there,” I force a smile.

“What were you doing downstairs?” His tone sharpens.

“The door was open,” I explain quickly, just as Ethan emerges from the bunker.

“I was organizing some papers and left the door open. She must’ve been looking for you,” Ethan says with a shrug, his tone now calm and collected. I frown at the complete shift in his behavior.

“It’s late. We should all get to bed,” Dante says, and I nod, heading inside, trying to calm myself down.

The cold water helps to ground me as I wash my face; looking in the mirror, I see flashes of the old me, the scared girl that ran that night. I promised myself that would never happen again, but right now I feel like shit.

Entering my room, I close the door and take a deep breath. I’ve been working on it, and it’s almost finished now, with one black accent wall framing the bed, a small desk in the corner, and two drawers for my clothes. There’s no decor yet, but I’ve been drying some flowers that Ryker planted before we even got here and some branches. I want my room to feel like my little haven.

I lay in bed, looking at the ceiling. I still don’t know what Ethan is up to and why it is bothering me so much.

“Oh, Ethan!” A moan echoes, and I freeze. It’s Bryn, and the sound of their bed frame hitting the wall makes me cringe.

Am I being paranoid about Ethan? Bryn is smart, and she trusts him, right? And I trust her…

I turn to the side to cover my head with a pillow when I hear a knock on the door. I open it to find Dante standing there, shirtless; his muscular tattooed size covers the entire door frame, and I can’t help but take him in. The hawk tattoo covering his chest is massive, stretching the full length, and his abs contracting with each breath. His wet hair drips softly onto his shoulders, and I feel the heat rising up my neck.

“Just came to check if you’re okay. You seem—” He pauses as Bryn’s moans grow louder. “—stressed.”

“Ethan and Bryn…something feels… off,” I admit, my eyes searching his.

Dante shrugs lightly. “Well, Ethan’s a little intense. I think since you girls got here, he’s been trying to prove himself.”

“Maybe,” I murmur, though the unease lingers.

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