Page 30 of Mystic's Sunrise

My stomach twisted.

“He probably thinks that girl in this room actually wants him,” she muttered. “But it’s not like she can say no.”

Lucy stood.

I touched her wrist, my eyes saying,Go. Tell them off.

She smirked. “Don’t worry. I plan on it.”

Then she opened the door.

The women jumped like they’d been caught stealing from the safe.

Lucy crossed her arms and gave them her best bitch face. “You bitches own a mirror? Because you sure as hell shouldn’t be calling anyone else ugly.”

The brunette’s mouth opened. Shut. She straightened, trying to look tough. “We didn’t say anything that wasn’t true.”

“The hell you didn’t,” Lucy said coolly.

“Mystic is scary as hell,” the brunette snapped. “And who the fuck are you to tell me anything?”

Lucy stepped forward. “I can say whatever the hell I want. You’re just pissed that Mystic wouldn’t touch your skanky ass if you begged him. God only knows what he’d catch.”

Their faces twisted in rage.

Lucy leaned in, her voice low and dangerous. “And if I hear you talk about him like that again, I’ll do more than give you a warning.”

The brunette raised her hand like she was going to slap Lucy, but her friend grabbed her by the arm.

“Don’t be stupid! Spinner will have us kicked out if you touch her.”

The woman dropped her arm but shot Lucy a final snarl before storming off, muttering under her breath.

Lucy shut the door and turned to me, a big, crooked grin on her face.

She flopped onto the bed beside me, rubbing her temples. “He doesn’t deserve that shit, Z. He’s good. Scars and all.”

I nodded, my throat tight.

How could those women not see the man behind those scars?

CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE

THE ENGINE RUMBLEDbetween my thighs, sinking intomy bones as we tore down the back roads. Chain and Thunder flanked me, their headlights knifing through the trees, the only steady thing in a world that smelled like rain and dirt.

I told myself this ride would clear my head.

It didn’t.

If anything, every mile dragged me deeper under.

Her face stayed burned behind my eyelids—the way she looked curled up in that bed, lost and breakable. The way she reached for me without even knowing she did.

I gritted my teeth and leaned heavier into the throttle, eating up the road like I could outrun the image. She didn’t belong here. Didn’t belong anywhere near the hell following me. But it was too late to save her from it now.

A flicker of light up ahead caught my eye.

Chain’s hand lifted, signaling slow.

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