Page 110 of Redeemed

“No.” Colton places the lid on the carton. “You have to earn something like this.”

Haven’s face falls. “But—”

“Absolutely the fuck not,” I snap, grabbing the ice cream from Colton before he puts it in the freezer.

He raises a brow, for once showing a hint of surprise. “What?”

“We can hurt her, fuck her, make her sleep in a cage—I don’t care. But you don’t do this shit. If she wants ice cream, she fucking gets it.”

Colton is looking at me like I grew a second head. “You’ve been pissy all day. What the hell has gotten into you?”

I grab the scoop and another bowl, ignoring his question. “I’m fine with a punishment and reward system, but there are lines we can’t cross. This is the type of thing that fucks with women their entire lives.”

Haven makes a startled noise, quiet enough that I almost miss it. It’s like a stab to the heart, and guilt twists the knife in further.

I should’ve done more.

I should’ve paid closer attention.

“Food will never be a reward,” I say firmly, “and withholding it will never be a punishment. Are we clear?”

“Fine,” he says after a tense moment, his expression blank. “That’s reasonable enough.”

He doesn’t understand. And why would he? He doesn’t know what happened to Aurora before my family moved here. Only Xander does.

“Reasonable?”I grit out. “Do you hear yourself? Shit like this kills people, Colt.” I’m standing right in front of him now, towering over him, but he doesn’t look intimidated.

He never does.

“Luc.” Xander touches my arm. “He agreed. It’s oka—”

“No!” I shrug him off, shooting him and Colton glares. “No, it’s fucking not. We agreed to take care of her. That wasyouridea.” I jab Colton in the chest with a finger. “That has to come first. That’s the most important part of this agreement. We hurt, but we don’t harm. I thought you knew the fucking difference.”

He raises his hands in mock defense. “I’m not arguing. You’re right.”

“Good,” I spit out.

Despite his acquiescence, my rage is still running hot. I need to get some air before I fully crash out.

Spinning on my heel, I storm through the living room and out the front door. My ice cream is still on the counter, but I don’t even want it anymore. My body is too tense, and a scream is working its way up my throat.

But I can’t let it out.

That’s not who I’m supposed to be.

Who Ihaveto be.

Dropping onto the front steps, I bury my face in my hands.Too fast.We got into this shit with Haven way too fucking fast. If we’d had more time to prepare, we could’ve set ground rules. Boundaries.

None of us are on the same page about what we’re going to do to Haven, and it’s going to lead to a train wreck fast. I want to make her miserable, but not in ways that could permanently damage her.That’sthe difference between hurting and harming.

The front door closes softly behind me, and then Xander sits next to me on the steps. He’s silent, letting me work through the chaos in my head. Somehow, he always knows when I need a couple minutes of quiet.

“Sometimes he goes too far,” Xan says eventually, staring into the dark night.

“Sometimes we all do.”

Xander doesn’t say anything, but I know he agrees. Over the years, there were a couple times that I could see how badly we hurt Haven. She fucked Colton over and humiliated him, but that’s not what this is about anymore.

---