Page 8 of Hayes
But I’ve found a way to save us all.
I yawn. I don’t have to fake it; I’m exhausted. “Sorry, I’m too old and too tired to stay up.”
Adeline sighs.
Kennedy narrows her eyes at me as if she can see through my lies.
“Sleep tight,” I say and shut the door before either can start questioning me. I haven’t told them my plan, and I don’t intend to. They never need to know what I’m going to do to save them, to keep them innocent and untouched and free.
I head to the bedroom I share with Mom, which means it’s practically my own room since she’s never here. There are two full beds in here, each sitting on a cheap metal bed frame. No headboard. No comforters. No decorative pillows. Why would we spend money on such frivolous things?
The walls are a light shade of yellow from whoever lived here before. My skin crawls at the sight of the pastel shade every time—it’s far too happy of a color. The only personalized things in the room are a borrowed library book on astrology that I read before bed and a dirty coffee mug next to Mom’s bed. If I leave her things untouched, it’s like she just left for work this morning. It means she’ll return, and I can pretend she’s not actually in some Retribution King’s bed—fucking him for enough money to feed her daughters.
Soon, Mother, soon.
I’ve already changed out of my slinky dress and into a tank top and shorts. The dress is hanging over the door to the closet, to be returned to my friend Abigail in the morning. There is no way I could afford a dress like that on my own.
As I slide into bed, I plan on reading more of my book. I flip the first page open, but instead of focusing on the words on the page, all I can think about is him.
The mysterious stranger from tonight with the bright green eyes, long dark hair pulled into a bun, and full-framed glasses. He was a shameless flirt, but he’d helped me escape talking to Farrah. I wasn’t afraid to talk to her. I was afraid of what I would do to her if I was alone with her after she stole Kennedy’s phone and smashed it. It would take us months to earn enough money to buy her a new phone if I didn’t already have my plan in place. Right now, I really can’t go to prison. My family needs me too much.
I close my book and shut my eyes, hoping sleep will quickly take me. But the feel of his lips on mine takes control of my body. My lips still feel swollen from his bruising kisses, and my body hums with the feeling of his touch.
I don’t know his name or who he is. I do know he’s Titus’s second in command—that was clear from the way he was standing at Titus’s side—but any more than that is lost on me.
All I know is the connection I felt to him. My body wanted him even when my mind was screaming for me to run away from him. He’s not in the plan, and being with him would ruin everything. And I have no plan B, only plan A.
A wildfire spreads through my body, and a familiar ache surges between my legs. I shift uncomfortably in bed, trying to dull the ache. But his damn grin flashes in my head with his adorable dimples, and the ache strengthens.
His grin.
I’ve never been attracted to a man’s smile before, but his almost made this cynical heart want to smile along with him. I couldn’t take my eyes off his lips or the little dimple that formed on the side of his cheek.
God, how I wanted him tonight. I’m thankful to Kennedy for calling me before I took things too far. I almost let one night with a complete stranger ruin all of my plans.
I throw the covers over me, trying to block him out. Sleep, I need sleep, not him. The heat is still there, but I refuse to touch myself and bring myself any relief. I refuse to give a complete stranger so much power over me.
Chapter 4
Lilith
“Lilith Hart, I didn’t think you’d show,” Peter Anderson says.
“I’m here, right on time.”
I’m guessing I wouldn’t be the first woman who claimed to want his help only to not show up when it came down to it. But I have no choice, so I’m here.
“Come in.” He opens the door to his mansion, and I walk into the foyer. My eyes immediately drift up to the three stories towering above me. Each wall is filled with fancy art, a single piece valuable enough to pay for a lifetime of food for our family.
If I wasn’t such a bad thief, I’d consider stealing to save my family. But I’ve tried everything, and this is the only option I have left.
Peter leads me through the first floor of his house to a room at the back.
I keep my eyes down so I don’t get angry at all the things he has while my family survives on virtually nothing.
He unlocks a door and motions for me to step inside. When I look up, it’s exactly what I’d expect his office to look like. Overly masculine furniture far too big for the space takes up most of the room. Framed diplomas and pictures of his favorite racing cars line the walls. A bookshelf is filled with books that look like they’ve never been touched.
Peter closes the door and then flips the lock.
