Page 13 of Sinners Keepers
I’d had so many plans in store for us, and now this.
Fucking this.
I ran the back of my bloody hand under each of my eyes, violently brushing at the constant stream of tears running down my face as silent sobs wracked my body.
A large hand curled around my shoulder and I jerked before tilting my head to the side to find Alec there. He looked and sounded just as shaken as I was, his eyes filled with unshed tears. “An ambulance is on the way. The house is totally empty.”
Of course, it fucking was.
Ellis was a fucking piece of shit.
And I would do whatever it took to ensure that he was also a dead man.
CHAPTEREIGHT
Hunt
PRESENT DAY…
When Alec had driven us away from the apartment, I knew he’d be taking me to his home. And I knew that his home was one that he’d once shared with Ijah, but I wasn’t prepared for the onslaught of emotions I felt when the familiar estate came into view. My heart dropped into my fucking stomach.
“Hey,” Alec said, gently placing his tattooed hand on my forearm. “It’s going to be okay. He’s not here and he’s not going to be here. You’ve already run once, Hunny, and I need you to promise me you won’t again. Youhaveto stay with us, okay? It’s the only way for us to keep you safe.”
Panic swelled in my throat. “I don’t think I can… I c–can’t,” I stuttered out. “It’s too much. This is all too much.” I shoved his hand off of me and reached for the door handle.
He put the SUV in park and grabbed my wrist, jerking me back toward him. I flinched, memories from the very recent past assaulting my unstable subconscious at the rough way he handled me. It was so at odds with every other interaction we’d had up until this point.
He stilled—perhaps realizing—and loosened his grip. “I’m sorry, Bee. I justcan’tlet you do this again.” His thumb stroked along the underside of my wrist. “I know this is probably so fucking hard for you, but you’ve done harder things.”
I faced him, still filled with panic-induced tension. “I’m tired of having to do hard things.” I was pathetic.
“Sometimes life simply doesn’t give us a choice in the matter. This is one of those times.” My jaw clenched at his words, and I turned to the door again. “Hunter,” his use of my full name caught me off guard.
I pulled myself together, reminding myself of all the things the three of us had just discussed.
Taking everything into consideration eased my initial panic a fraction.
Ijah was not here and Alec and Law had both promised me that he wouldn’t be. This was all okay. I would be safe here.
Be rational, Hunt.
As if anything about this wasrational.
He seemed to arrive at the conclusion that I wouldn’t actually make a run for it…again. He let go of my hand and climbed out of the vehicle, coming around to the other side to open my door for me.
Law was already out and walking toward the front door.
Alec held out a hand for me to take. My eyes trailed over his intimidating form, with every inch of exposed skin covered in impressive art.
He was overwhelming.
His plain black t-shirt was stretched to its limits, highlighting every contour of his chest and biceps. A single dark curl hung over his forehead as he gazed down at me expectantly.
Jesus literal fuck.
My lizard brain still screamed at me that this was a bad idea, but my inner slut screamed back in defianceI’ll do whatever the fuck you want me to do!
When I placed my hand in his and allowed him to help me to my feet, he encouraged, “That’s a good girl.”
