Page 107 of Redeemed

“Is it really cooperation if I’m coerced into it?”

Colton shrugs. “All I care about is getting what I want from you. And trust me, I will.”

A shudder rolls through me. He’s telling the truth. Not just because he means it, but because he can back it up. Colton knows how to manipulate me into doing whatever he wants. Even when I try to fight against him, he always wins.

Crouching in front of me, Colton clasps his hands together. “Now, tell me the truth. Did he hurt you often?”

“Who?”

He gives me an impatient look that saysdon’t play dumb with me.“The man chasing you last night.”

“I told you, I don’t know him.”

Silently, Colton stares at my hand as it travels across Star’s back. “Careful, angel. I already have little patience where you’re concerned. Trying it is risky on your part.”

“I’ll take my chances.”

His mouth curves upward in a terrifying smile. “Fine. Just remember, little traitor. Your actions have consequences.”

Lucas

BythetimeIget home from working out, I’m exhausted and even more on edge than I was last night. Comforting Haven through her panic attack this morning was like traveling through time. All of a sudden, we were eighteen again, and her pain was my pain. Iwantedto help her—wanted to take on all her fear so she wouldn’t have to bear it.

It disgusted me.

When Haven told Mark about the briefcase, she didn’t just take away Xander’s path to get into the Glass Rooks. She broke our trust.

Haven knew not to believe a word that came out of Mark’s mouth, yet she did it anyway. All it would’ve taken was a phone call—hell, even a text—to warn Colton after Mark left, and we would’ve been able to let it slide. But she didn’t. She decided to believe Mark’s lies instead.

I’ll never forgive Haven for causing us to lose our leverage over Mark. Xander almost lost his chance to join the Rooks because of her. Even though most of the leadership wanted to let him in, Mark refused, purely to spite Colton. It wasn’t until my stepdad finally questioned Mark’s reasoning that he gave in. He knew he didn’t have a good way to explain his actions without looking like an ass.

So when Haven is the first person I see upon entering Colton’s mansion, my anger only flares up more. She’s in the kitchen, and I spot Xander a moment later. It looks like she’s sitting with him while he makes dinner.

“Hey,” Xander says with a smile when I drop my gym bag to the floor. He sets down the knife he’s holding and crosses the kitchen to drop a chaste kiss on my lips. “Training go good?”

“It was fine, I guess.”

Honestly, I don’t click with a lot of the guys on the team. They’re good players, but I grew up so differently than most of them. Add in the Glass Rooks and that I spend my limited free time hacking into whatever my superiors tell me to, and we haveverylittle in common.

“We still have a good forty-five minutes left before dinner is ready,” Xander tells me. “I think we’re watching a movie after.”

“Oh?” I lift a brow in surprise.

I assumed Colton would want to jump right into training Haven to be our perfect little toy. Watching a movie sounds oddly tame compared to what I was expecting from him. Although, I suppose he was alone with her all morning. He probably did some fucked-up shit to her then. Maybe that’s why her shoulders are so tense and she won’t look up from where she’s sitting at the counter.

“I figured a little downtime would be nice before we’re thrown back into our regular schedules. Colton seemed to think it was a good idea when I suggested it.”

Tossing a disinterested glance at Haven, I ask, “Is she joining?”

“That’s the plan.”

I’d prefer she stayed locked in her cage after dinner, but if it’s what Xander and Colton decided, then whatever. I can deal with it.

“Fine. I’m showering.”

As I walk past Haven, I steal another glance at her. She’s dressed in the tiniest pair of shorts and a thin crop top. No bra—we decided not to give her any—so I can see the outline of her nipples through the fabric. An array of flowers and vines centered around a crescent moon expands across her chest, the black ink still crisp. It’s a fucking gorgeous tattoo.

I hate it.

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