Page 41 of Trigger's Temptation

Jezebelle ushers Dagger inside the infirmary, and he gently lays her on a hospital bed. I shut the door once Dagger leaves, only keeping myself, Jezebelle, and Elise in here. I turn around and watch what Jezebelle is doing to my sister.

She begins hooking up wires and an IV, and the steady beep of the heart monitor releases the edgy feeling I’ve been having.

“Daisy is on her way, and you need to step out,” Jezebelle demands next to my sister’s bed.

My head snaps toward her. “What? Why?” I growl. “That’s not going to happen.”

Jezebelle crosses her arms over her chest. “Trigger, I know you’re concerned, but I have to get her cleaned up and changed. Give your sister some dignity and step out of the room once Daisy comes in.” She steps forward, making me step back. “Don’t you think she’s been through enough already? She’s already had her freedom stripped from her. Do you really want to take more away?” Jezebelle throws her hands up in the air in frustration.

A knock on the door interrupts my answer. Daisy peeks her head in, then steps inside. “It’s OK, Trigger. I promise once we’re done, you can come back in here. But please do this for her.” Daisy places a comforting hand on my arm. “Please.”

I huff out a breath, knowing I’m defeated before I even argue some more. “Fine. But…”

Jezebelle cuts me off, rolling her eyes. “Yeah, yeah, yeah. If anything happens to her, you’ll kick our man’s ass.” Daisy opens the door, and Jezebelle shoves me out. “I’ll let you know as soon as you can come back.”

The door slams in my face, and I brace my head against the wood, my chest aching. My heart feels like it’s breaking in two. Half my heart shatters for Elise and what she’s endured. The other half breaks for Aerianna and the fact that I left her at the scene to clean up my mess. I hope she forgives me for that fucked up situation.

I sit at the bar, nursing a Crown and Coke, waiting for the rest of my brothers to arrive with our two captives. The whiskey burns as it goes down, but it does nothing to numb the restless energy crawling beneath my skin.

Aerianna texted me earlier, asking about Elise. I read the message a dozen times but never responded. What the hellwas I supposed to say? That my sister is breathing but barely functioning? That every time she closes her eyes, she’ll see her worst nightmare replaying on a loop? That I don’t know how to fix her?

Instead of answering, I left the message unread.

My back is to the room when a warm hand slides along my thigh. My muscles tense instantly. The touch is foreign, wrong. It isn’t Aerianna. I’d know if it was. I’d feel her before I even saw her. Fingertips drift higher, lingering too close to my junk. A pair of tits press against my arm, and the heavy scent of perfume floods my nose, making me gag. My stomach twists with disgust. I don’t shove women away, not unless they give me a reason, but this feels all kinds of wrong.

I turn my head and come face-to-face with Pearl. Her lips part in a slow, practiced sigh, her pale eyes gleaming with hunger.

“I’ve missed you, Trigger.” Her voice drips with desire as she presses against me. “Wanna get out of here?” One slender arm wraps around my neck, her nails dragging over the back of my neck. She’s trying to seduce me. But my body? It doesn’t respond. My dick doesn’t even twitch. There’s no pull, no heat, no interest.

I lean into her so my lips are a breath away from hers. The lust and hunger in her pale eyes enrages me. Who does she think she is touching me?

Before I can say a damn word, Pearl is ripped away from me so violently that her body flies across the room. A solid crunch echoes through the clubhouse before Pearl’s shriek pierces the quiet air.

Aerianna stands over her, breathing hard, her fists clenched at her sides.

Pearl scrambles back, clutching her cheek. “What the fuck, bitch?”

Aerianna lands another punch before she can dodge, knocking Pearl flat on her ass.

I barely have time to react before Aerianna’s glare locks onto me, fury and betrayal burning in those grey eyes I crave.

She points an accusing finger at me before her sharp gaze lands on Pearl. “If that is what you want,” she gestures to Pearl, her tone dripping with disgust. “Then have at it. I’m not some easy piece of white trash you can use when it’s convenient for you.”

“Wait. It’s not what you think.” I shove off the barstool, but Tiny’s thick arm slams into my chest, holding me back. He shakes his head, disappointment in his eyes.

“The fuck it isn’t,” Aerianna snaps. Her chest heaves, her anger radiating through the room, setting my veins on fire. Jesus Christ, she’s pissed. And fuck, it turns me on. “I thought you were helping your sister. You know, the one who was beaten within an inch of her life, and instead you’re out here fucking this whore.”

Before I respond, Aerianna holds up her hand. “I’m out. When you want to man up, you know where to find me.”

She spins on her heel and storms toward the door, taking all the air in the room with her. I hang my head in defeat. My heart, my other half, my soul, is leaving, and these fuckers won’t let me go after her.

“Release me, Tiny, before your dick matches your name,” I growl.

“Don’t do anything stupid, man,” Tiny shoves me back into my seat. “Sit the fuck down and explain what happened.”

I rake a hand through my hair, my head pounding. “The only stupid thing I’ve done is let her walk away.”

“Who?” Tiny asks, sitting next to me. “Aerianna or Pearl?”

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