Page 1 of Keep Me (Rebel Hearts Heists 2)
Let’s make a deal
Sloane
There are crossroads in your life that aren’t very significant.
You make a choice and you don’t think about the consequences. Then, there are moments like this one. Moments where you are looking directly at the two paths ahead of you and trying to decide which has less consequences. Honestly, I have no fucking idea what we’re doing right now. It’s hard to think rationally with pain lancing through my chest and panic building up.
The room we’re in has pale white walls and a stereotypical metal table and chairs that I assume they keep in most interrogation rooms. A cold chill rolls over my skin and I find myself trying to remember my fury from a few hours ago because frankly, it’s all that’s keeping me from having a panic attack. Well, that, and three of my guys.
Blaine Barrington sits next to me, his body impossibly still as he locks his foot around mine because our hands are still handcuffed in front of us and chained to holes in the metal table. Probably because these boys look like they could overpower pretty much anyone they want. I look at the lean, lethal man next to me, his eyes like silver nickels surrounded by thick lashes as they examine my face. His tan complexion and dark wave of black hair has me getting turned on despite being in an interrogation room. Or maybe because of it. I mean would it be all that surprising to have a kink for interrogation rooms, since I’m so into my kidnappers? Probably not.
I can tell he’s worried about me and I want to reassure him that I’m fine, but I can’t find the words to say that. I can’t get out an “I’m okay” or anything like that. Mostly because I'm reallynotokay. My heart feels like it has been hit with a hammer, then stomped on, before my stomach bottomed out into a pool of disappointment and anger. And not just because of Kaden’s betrayal, although that is the main cause of it.
I’m also worried about River. My handsome, insane, and oddly vulnerable, once you get to know him, River Rhodes. While Blaine is slightly taller and bigger at 6′3″, River is 6′1″ and absolutely deadly looking. His dark blond hair is now cut short and somehow, despite him literally just slicing off his hair with a blade, it ended up looking fantastic and highlights his sculpted lips and rich hazel eyes.
His head is resting against my shoulder as he leans into me, pain written all over his expression. I know they tried to patch him up from Pierce’s treatment of him but the guy should be in the hospital or at least relaxing, not in a goddamn interrogation room. We almost died in that boathouse, for fuck’s sake! If anything, that’s another thing I hold against Kaden.
But when River opens his eyes and looks up at me, I am distracted from my furious thoughts because I want to touch him so bad or at least smooth my fingers through his hair. Unfortunately my fingers are tightly clasped together, while my body is almost folded in two as I’m trying to work off the chill of the air-conditioned room.
“Princess.” Royce Barrington gains my attention and my head snaps up to him, to his dark green eyes, shaded with concern. The man is massive, at least 6′5″, and his body is much too built for the shitty small chair underneath him. I’m so busy looking at his stunning, slightly haunted and brooding expression, that I don’t even realize that the dark haired man is offering me a jacket that he had with him and took off once we got here. I lean over, trying to not disrupt River’s steady, relaxed breathing and once I grasp it, Blaine helps me wrap it around my shoulders. Shielding me from the frigid air conditioning.
“Thanks,” I whisper quietly as he nods, his eyes flashing with a million different things he probably wants to say. I understand that far too well.
I didn’t realize how deep my feelings had grown until River’s life was at stake. Until the brothers and I were stuffed into a helicopter and arrested by the FBI.
Until Kaden betrayed us. Betrayed me.
Don’t get me wrong.We all have secrets. But it wasn’t the secret I have a problem with, hell if he had just told us, we could have handled this differently. Instead, he had us arrested. He personally cuffed me. I don’t know if I’ll ever be able to forget that moment. Now, we have no idea what’s going to happen and I don’t know if this is any better than the Pierce situation.
My hands tighten together.Fucking Pierce.
He’s a huge part of the problem and I’ll be damned if he gets off scot free after all the shit he did, after almost killing River. While I’m still mad at Kaden, I thank God that he stormed into that boathouse, because make no mistake, I’m certain that if the cops had arrived five minutes later, River would have been dead and I don’t even want to think about what would have happened to me. I probably would’ve wished for death. But after all the lies, knowing all the shit that Pierce did while keeping his own identity a secret, Kaden owes me to get Pierce off the streets and away from me.
As if summoned by the devil himself, the door opens and in stroll two men. One of them, I’m unfamiliar with, but the other has all four of us stiffening, as a low, dangerous sound comes from Royce’s throat. Kaden’s eyes meet mine and his jaw clenches as a dark shadow mars his expression. There’s also concern there. And I hate that. He doesn’t get to worry about me. He doesn’t get to worry about any of us.
I know I look worse for wear. My dark hair is knotted and falling on my face, my head is pounding from falling onto the floor of the boathouse, a bruise no doubt darkening my olive skin tone. It isn’t a good look, but then again it’s hard to care with this heartbreak pushing its way up my throat.
Kaden.Sorry, Agent Vance. If either of those are actually his real name.
The other man sits down on the other side of the table as Kaden leans against the mirrored wall that’s clearly a double-sided window. I look over at his freshly showered blond hair and bright dark blue eyes. Eyes that I stared into while he fucked me less than twenty-four hours ago. The eyes of a man that I trusted. Clearly, I’ve once again placed my trust in someone that fed me nothing but lies. Maybe that ability is unique to FBI agents? But I inwardly shake my head: Kaden might have lied, he might have arrested me, but I know full well that his tenderness toward me, the way he protected me countless times, are a world apart from Pierce’s psychotic manipulations and violence. And maybe that’s what makes his betrayal all the more painful.
His muscled physique stands out, outlined by a black fitted shirt and pants, an FBI jacket over his shoulders. His eyes flicker to the one Royce gave me. I think what I see flit through his expression is frustration and it makes me happy. I hope he’s annoyed with whatever it was that he saw. He deserves that and way more.
I never considered myself a protective person. But what started with me being protective over River turned into feeling protective over both the Barrington brothers. Kaden was a part of that as well, but now I feel like I have to protect them and myself from him, even if it seems laughable. I watch as he continues to stare at me, his gaze never leaving mine, which makes Blaine tense up even more. I didn’t realize the other man started talking until I refocused.
“My name is Agent Walker,” he introduces himself while examining each of our expressions, “and you three, are part of the infamousAvengersgang, correct?”
If he was looking for a denial none of them offer it and I don’t add anything, my eyes closing slightly as a bout of dizziness comes over me. Fuck, I’m teetering on the line between being pissed and having a full-blown panic attack. I tug on my binds slightly but slump when I realize that I’m not going to get out of these cuffs until they decide it’s time.
“And you are Miss Sloane Donnelly?” Walker asks after calling off the other three names and the guys nod. Well, River’s response is more of a grunt.
“Yeah.” I nod.
“Well.” He sighs. “As you can imagine, the three of you are facing some pretty serious charges, if found guilty. For the record, I can assure you that you will be found guilty of armed bank robberies throughout the state of California and kidnapping. So, bear that in mind. And as for you, Ms. Donnelly …”
“She wasn’t a part of it,” Kaden states, his jaw clenching.
“Yes I was,” I admit meeting his gaze as Royce mutters a curse. “Don’t lie any more than you already have, Kaden.”
