Page 39 of Lies Beneath Secrets

“Lauren,” he warns. I shake my head, wondering if that brute of a man that dragged me into this room an hour ago will come back out in him. Instead, he gives a reluctant nod. And he’s about to leave, but I find myself needing to explain.

“It makes the darkness go away,” I state, then bring my hands out from behind me. “It’s one of the reasons I see Dr. Brooks. I hadn’t done it in a very long time. Then King… After that night, I started again. Then when you left… I just can’t deal sometimes.” I don’t even notice I’m crying until Con reaches out and palms my face, swiping away the tears with his thumbs.

“You can use me to make the darkness go away.” More tears fill my eyes as he pulls me to his chest. “I got you, Lauren,” he murmurs into the top of my head, stroking his hand along the tangled strands of hair. “I got you.”

Chapter

Con

I let her adjust to being here for a day. She probably slept for most of it, and I think she really needed it. After finding her on the floor, burning herself, she broke down. I took her into the shower, cleaned every inch of her body, then tended to her burn, finding so many scars next to it. My woman is battling some demons.

All of that fire she had, got snuffed out the second she told me about it. Not that she had much choice. I would have either fought her for the lighter, or she would have to explain what I had seen. I’m glad she chose the latter.

“She needs to get up and be a part of the club,” King tells me from across the table. He demanded I come see him before the party tonight. “That was the deal.”

“She will,” I say, hoping I can get her peeled off the bed for a few hours tonight. She hasn’t spoken a word to me since I laid her under the covers. She has eaten a little at least though.

“She’ll need to initiate like the other girls as well.” My head tilts to the side.

“I know.”

“Have her pick the target, or you pick one for her. I don’t give a shit. Just get it done. I’ll even give you forty-eight hours since she was such a good girl.” He stands up. “Nice, tight pussy and ass on that one.” I can’t help it. I lunge for him, my forearm going under his chin. His back slams up against the wall, and I push hard.

“Con,” Knox yells at me from behind.

“It’s all right, boys. I was pressing buttons.” King laughs, holding up his hands. When I don’t let him go, he looks right at me. Those dead eyes of his flickering with challenge. “Are we all right, Con?” As much as I want to yank my knife out right now and drag it across his throat, I don’t. Instead, I slowly back away.

“Yeah, we’re all right.”

“Good.” King smacks his hands together and looks at the boys all standing at the table now. Two of them with their guns out still. “Go drink and fuck. Tomorrow is a brand-new day.” He smiles and walks out of the room. It’s a goddamn Saturday night and ever since King took over, he has been demanding we have a party on each one.

“I thought for sure you would kill him this time,” Pace says, coming to my side.

“Me too,” I admit.

“Is she doing okay?” Pace asks.

“She’s fine.” This could be a lie. I don’t know how she’s doing.

“Seems to be one tough cookie.”

“Call her a cookie again, I fucking dare you.” I eye him for a moment, seeing if he’s stupid enough to try me. He just laughs and shakes his head instead.

“Fair enough.” He walks out of the room, leaving me alone for a moment. I know I need to get Lauren up and ready for this fucking party but damn it, I’m sort of dreading it.

I’m not sure what I think I’ll see when I open up the door to the room I have Lauren locked up in, but her sitting on the bed, dressed in what I left for her, isn’t it. Siena had given me a dress for her to wear tonight, but I told her fuck no on that. Then she had handed over a pair of them stretchy-ass pants Lauren likes to wear around her apartment. That was an even bigger fuck no.

We settled on a pair of shorts and a tank top. I said absolutely not to the heels she tried to hand me as well. She settled on handing me a pair of slip-on shoes with absolutely no heel.

“Has the party started already?” she asks, standing up from the bed.

“Yeah, just a minute ago.” I eye her warily for a moment until she lets out a frustrated breath.

“Stop it.”

“Stop what?”

“Looking at me like some fragile little girl. I had a moment, okay? I’m good now.” She crosses her arms over her chest, pulling down that low-cut tank top a little bit. Fuck, I should have had Siena give her a tee shirt instead. As if she can read my mind, she looks down. “Jesus. It’s fine. They’ve already seen them anyway.” She shakes her head and walks toward the door. “Are we doing this or not?”

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