Page 89 of Panic-Button
Shit.
That nice little collection was more than enough to sign my death warrant. So why hadn’t he used it?
“What did you do with them?”
“Nothing.” The chain around my ankle prevented me from moving away when he crawled onto the mattress. “Lou wouldn’t be too happy.”
Attempting to keep some distance between us, I pressed my back against the headboard. “Are you going to tell him?”
“No.”
That confused me more than anything else he’d done. The Order Of Ravens and Wolves was built like any other corporation. While there were numerous employees and managers, there was always someone on top. In this case, it was Louis Kessler. Unless I was wrong?
“Isn’t he your leader?”
“You know me, Marnie.” He leaned in to growl softly, “Do you really think I take orders from anyone?”
A nervous swallow bobbed down my throat. No, no, I didn’t.
“What about Micha?”
Did I need to take his threat seriously or worry about something worse?
“Let’s not talk about Micha.” Preston buried his nose in my neck and let out a groan that rumbled through me. “I already want to kill him. Now take your pants off.”
My pussy ached at the thought of being touched. I was exhausted, sore, and wanted to be left alone for just one day. At least, that was what I told myself when Preston grabbed my hip, and tingles shot up my leg.
I needed to change the subject and divert his attention.
“Maybe I want to talk about Micha.” I didn’t, but Preston did say he wanted to kill him, so…
I knew my plan backfired the second Preston’s mouth tipped up.
“I know what you’re doing, sneaky Little Bird.” He tsked, then grazed his lips against mine. “You can’t hide from me.”
The underlying meaning was so disturbing that I shivered.
Preston wasn’t talking about things I’d done or planned to do. The hide in this scenario referred to me and who I was at my core, which was truly terrifying.
I’d never felt more seen than I did around him. My body could be covered in yards of fabric, and I’d still feel naked. That was the purpose of my glasses.
I didn’t realize how much I needed them until now. Nor did I notice my hand move up to my temple until the corner of Preston’s brow rose.
“Missing something?”
Asshole.
I gritted my teeth and hissed, “I’m fine.”
“No, you’re not.”
My breath hitched as his hand slid up my side. One touch was all it took to make my body hum. The heat from his palm soaked through my shirt and flowed into my chest, where it became a white-hot flame of self-hatred.
‘Desire is the fruit of all sin.’
No matter how many times I tried to rid myself of my father’s infernal voice, it was always there—reminding me to be the righteous daughter he expected. But I wasn’t righteous, and neither was he. Righteous people didn’t beat their children. They didn’t steal money from their church or manipulate their flock under the guise of religion. They didn’t cheat on their wives. They looked at them like…
Like how Preston looked at me.
