Page 10 of Dead Devil's Playground
Ry
I'vejustwrappedatowel around my still wet hair when the bathroom door opens. Rev stands in the opening, his arms crossed over his chest and a scowl firmly on his face. My stomach dips a little because that look spells trouble for me. That look tells me that Hudson has already tattled.
"Are you fucking kidding me, Ry?" His voice is deadly quiet, which is always worse than when he yells.
I shrug, trying for nonchalance as I secure the towel better around my head. "What?"
His jaw ticks. "Don't play dumb. It doesn't suit you." He pushes off the doorframe, stalking into the bathroom. "Five men in an alley? Stealing some random dancer's motorcycle? A knife to your throat?"
I roll my eyes. "I had it under control."
"Under control?" He laughs, but there's no humor in it. "You call that under control? You could have died, Rylan."
"But I didn't," I counter, trying to step around him.
He blocks my path, his large frame filling the doorway. "That's not the point and you know it."
"Then what is the point, Rev?" I snap, frustration bubbling up. "That I should sit here and be a good little girl while you and Kai handle everything? That I should let Hudson babysit me like I'm some helpless princess?"
His eyes flash dangerously. "The point is that you were reckless. The point is that there are people in this city who want us dead, and you're making it fucking easy for them."
"I killed four of them," I remind him, chin tilting up defiantly.
"And the fifth almost killed you," he growls.
We stand there, tension crackling between us like a live wire. Finally, he shakes his head, a muscle jumping in his jaw. "We'll talk about this later."
Before I can respond, he turns and stalks out, leaving me alone in the bathroom. I rip the towel from my head, throwing it against the counter in frustration. Fucking Hudson. He didn't waste any time running to Rev with the story, did he?
I take a deep breath, trying to calm the storm brewing inside me. I examine the cut in the mirror. It's not deep, just a thin line that's already stopped bleeding. It'll heal without a scar—not that I care about one more mark on my body.
The dye has worked its magic, and I run my fingers through my still-damp hair, admiring the color. It's a rich teal, vibrant and bold, exactly like the color of the Devil's Playground sign. I style it quickly, letting it fall in loose waves around my shoulders. The effect is striking against my pale skin, making my blue eyes pop even more.
I dress quickly in tight black jeans and a low-cut top that shows just enough skin to be distracting but not enough to be vulgar. Power isn't always about showing force—sometimes it's about commanding attention.
When I finally emerge from the bathroom, I can hear raised voices from the living room. I follow the sound, finding Rev and Kai facing off with Hudson, who stands with his back straight and expression neutral despite the twins' obvious anger.
"—could have called for backup," Kai is saying, his voice tight with barely controlled rage.
"She was gone before I could stop her," Hudson replies, his tone measured. "By the time I tracked her down, she'd already engaged."
"That's your fucking job," Rev snaps. "To stop her from doing stupid shit like this."
I lean against the doorframe, crossing my arms. "You know I'm standing right here, right? Maybe stop talking about me now that I’m in the room."
Three pairs of eyes snap to me, and I can't help the smirk that forms on my lips at their reactions. Kai's eyes widen slightly before his expression shifts to appreciation. Rev's scowl deepens, though I catch the flicker of heat in his gaze. But it's Hudson's reaction that interests me most—the slight parting of his lips, the way his eyes darken as they take in my new hair color.
"Well, don't you all look cozy," I drawl, pushing off the wall and sauntering into the room. "Having a nice chat about the troublesome little woman in your lives?"
Kai's lips twitch, fighting a smile despite his anger. "You're impossible, you know that?"
"Part of my charm," I reply, dropping onto the couch and stretching my legs out.
Rev hasn't moved, his eyes still locked on me. "This isn't a joke, Ry."
I sigh, some of my bravado fading. "I know it's not. But I'm fine. We're all fine. And now we know there are people bold enough to attack in broad daylight."
"That's not comforting," Kai mutters.
