Page 78 of Pay the Price

Okay, now I was just pissed, but I fought to keep my temper under control, because Daisy had not liked it when we’d brawled at the Blades’ compound during Summer Shit. If it happened tonight, she might never set foot on the property again.

“You saying someone else, someonestraight with a good job and no baggage,could ever love Daisy like we do?”

I held my breath, mostly because I’d never copped to loving Daisy, not out loud, and I had no idea how Jace was going to feel aboutthatlittle confession.

“Love isn’t everything,” he said.

I shook my head. “You’re wrong.”

“We’ll drag her down,” Jace said. “Deep down, you know that. You just don’t want to admit it because you’re not thinking straight. Otis too. You’re both in so deep you couldn’t find yourway out with a fucking spotlight.” He shrugged. “I’m sure that’s hard to hear, but I’m just telling it like it is.”

“You know what I think? Since we’retelling it like it is?”

He made abring itmotion with his arms. “Hit me.”

“I think you say it’s about Daisy, about wanting the best for her, but deep down you’re just afraid she’s going to wake up one day, look at us, and see everything her dad warned her about. And if you see all of that in Daisy’s eyes, it’ll prove it was true all along.”

He glared at me, the nerve in his eye twitching, and I braced myself for impact.

“You’re a fucking asshole,” he said.

“Back at you.”

“I should kick your ass.”

“You can try,” I said.

We stared each other down, the sound of music thumping from outside, the Blades and their party guests ready to get wild now that the sun was down.

“You done?” he finally said.

“For now.”

“Good.” He stomped toward the door. “I need a fucking beer.”

Chapter 47

Daisy

We changed out of our wet clothes, grabbed a fresh round of drinks (I was on water, the memory of my hangover after the Velvet Rope too vivid to risk another so soon), and hiked up to the ridge to watch the fireworks.

From that vantage point we had a view of three different shows from Blackwell Falls and two neighboring towns, and I sat nestled between Otis and Wolf, my face tipped to the sky as colors exploded across the inky expanse.

Jace sat nearby, clearly brooding about something, and even though I felt safe and happy between Wolf and Otis, I still felt sad seeing Jace set himself apart.

After the fireworks were over we headed back down the hill, Wolf and Otis insisting on taking turns giving me piggyback rides over rough terrain even though I was more than capable of walking.

I protested, but I secretly loved how easily they lifted me off the ground, carrying me over fallen trees, exposed roots, and large boulders like I weighed nothing at all.

Now everyone was around the fire, either sitting or standing in groups while Pinky set out a fresh round of food and one of the Blades fired up the grills for a round of late-night burgers.

Otis had given me his hoody, and I sat on his lap, trying not to squirm when he slapped his hand under the thick fabric to stroke my stomach. Wolf sat on my other side, but when I looked over at him, he just grinned, like he knew exactly what Otis was up to.

Otis started to slip his hand into the waistband of my shorts.

I slapped his hand away. “Stop it.”

“Why? Seemed like you were enjoying it, doll.”

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