Page 56 of Reaper Flame

“You’re cleaned up now.”

It’s all I could manage to say as Zander moved to let me pass. He strode over to his cabin door and held it open. Words didn’t change anything, did they? Zander said that himself, but it was hard to ignore a strange fluttering sensation in my chest. Zander confessed his love for me, but could it be possibleIloved him back? Could I love all three of the Seven men?

“You should go,” he said, back to his usual business-like demeanor. “You don’t want to miss any more of the party.”

I didn’t argue. My lips stayed clamped together like they were sealed with superglue. Somehow, I made it to the door without tripping again.

“Goodnight, Candy.”

He shut the door, leaving me staring at the wood and wondering whether Vixen had slipped me something stronger than tequila. Zander had shown me parts of himself he kept hidden. Whoever said the number seven was lucky was wrong…

THIRTEEN

Iput on my best fake smile and returned to the party, but the initial sparkle to the evening had vanished. I couldn’t get rid of the image of Zander’s bloody back from my mind. What was wrong with me? I’d killed people! My days of being squeamish were long over. No, it was why I stopped myself that was terrifying… and what it meant.

Rocky’s eyes lit up as I rejoined them. He strolled over and wrapped an arm around my shoulder. “Where have you been hiding? Everything okay?”

“Seasickness,” I lied.

“You know what helps with seasickness?” Rocky pulled a bag of weed out of his pocket and wiggled his eyebrows. He’d never go anywhere without a stash. “Candy’s Breath.”

I smiled thinly. Getting stoned would only heighten my paranoia. “Maybe another time.”

“Suit yourself.” Rocky shrugged, pulling out his papers to roll. He nodded at the chairs on the far side of the deck. “I’ll be over there if you change your mind.”

West lurked nearby, shamelessly listening in on our conversation. A cheeky grin spread over his face, making his scars dance. “You seemed okay with the rocky waves last night, Pinkie.”

Could the fucker be any more obvious?

“Well, I’m not today,” I snapped.

Rocky looked between us, then realization dawned on him and his mouth fell open. “You two—”

“We’re not talking about it!” I interrupted, shutting him down.

Our situation was weird enough without them comparing notes. I didn’t need everyone to know that my vagina had her own fucking ideas about what was good for me… and they started and ended with the Sevens.

“Shame,” West said. He leaned in to whisper in my ear, knowing Rocky was watching on. “I was hoping for a repeat performance.”

He was fucking unbelievable!

“The only thing you’re getting is blue fucking balls,” I said, wiping the smug smirk off his face.

I’d forgotten how fragile The Hulk’s ego could be. Rocky, on the other hand, found it hilarious. He snorted and slapped West on the back as he passed him. “Nice try, bro!”

West pouted the way he always did when he didn’t get his way or something irked him.

“What’s Red laughing so hard at?” Vixen asked, coming over to join us with Mieko and Q as Rocky passed them to light up at the opposite end of the yacht.

“Nothing,” I replied quickly, putting an end to the conversation and steering it back to safe waters. “Tonight is all about you.”

“Tell that to Zander,” Vixen grumbled.

She tried to pretend she didn’t care, but the hurt was visible in her eyes. As much as I wanted to say more and explain what Zander shared with me, I stayed silent. If he believed he was a curse, how could anyone convince him otherwise?

Mieko placed a hand gently on my arm. “Are you sure you’re feeling alright?”

Q frowned. “You look pale.”

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