Page 56 of Judgment Day

“Only on the outside.”

Bullshit. What Caspian did to Linc’s face wasonly on the outside. This was different. This was more. Scars like that didn’t stay on the outside. They went soul-deep.

He spun around, then pulled his shirt over his shoulders. He looked like pure sin in his unbuttoned shirt, the tanned, tone body underneath, the smattering of hair on his chest and below his belly button.

He cupped my face. “Don’t.” His fingertips dug into my hair. “I don’t want pity. Not from you.”

I blinked my tears away. “It’s not pity.” It was anger. Hurt. Helplessness. But not pity, not for a man like Grey.

His blue eyes darkened into midnight pools. “You should go.” His jaw feathered, gaze seared through me. “Now. Before I change my mind about letting you leave.”

THIRTY TWO

Leo loadedup our things in the rental. I grabbed an apple and a bottle of water for the road. It was an hour to the airport from here. The sun had gone behind the clouds, turning the day to overcast. I hated flying in the rain, so we needed to hurry.

Lyric was at the stove, making French toast. Her phone was propped up on the counter, and she was talking to the screen. She’d showered and changed into a pair of black yoga pants and a baggy t-shirt. Her hair was still damp but pulled up into a knot on top of her head. I fought the urge to walk up behind her and bite her neck. She was lucky I even let her out of the bedroom after she called mesir. And that shit with my scars damn near gutted me. She’d touched them, kissed them, brought them to life. The ache to relieve the pain hummed beneath my skin, the way it did when I had nightmares. I couldn’t show her that demon. She wasn’t ready for that yet.

I stood beside her, and a pang of want crawled up my spine, lingering from earlier. “I have to go.”

She turned her head, seductively smiling as she faced me. “You haven’t had breakfast.”

My mouth curved at the memory of her taste on my tongue. “I already ate.”

Her skin flushed. She cleared her throat, then checked the phone screen. “Dad,” she said, emphasizing the word. “You remember Grey.”

Her father nodded as his eyes met my face. “Hey man, Thanks again for everything you did for my daughter. It means a lot.”

“Of course. She deserves to be happy. I’m just glad to help make that happen.”Whatever it took.I dragged my gaze to hers, then discreetly brushed the front of my finger over the top of her hand. “I’ll see you soon.”

A few girls wandered around downstairs. One of them stopped me as I walked out of the kitchen. She was young, petite, with long black hair and brown eyes. “You’re Grey, right?”

“I am.”

“I just wanted to say thank you.” She glanced down at her feet, then back up to me. “I’m the one you… helped,” she almost whispered. Technically, I’d helped them all.But she was the one with the clamp.“You saved me.”

I clenched my jaw until it ached, holding back all the things I wanted to say.You never should’ve been there. You were there because of me, because a queen I damaged sent you there. I didn’t save you. I damned you. I don’t deserve your gratitude.

“I’m not a savior. I’m just a man who undid a bad thing.” I glanced at my watch, then to the front door. “I should help Leo with the bags.”

She stepped out of the way, still watching me as though I were some kind of hero.

I wasn’t.

Lincoln stopped me on the porch. He had his hands in the pockets of his jeans as he stared out over the mountains. “When Lyric and I first started dating, she used to play these games. She’d fucking flirt with other guys to try to make me jealous.” He smiled to himself. “Then I would take her home and fuck her senseless. She liked possessive Lincoln, jealous Lincoln.” He faced me. “At first, I thought that’s what this was all about. I thought she was playing one of her fucking games. But that’s not it.” He shook his head. “Whatever the fuck happened between you two during those four years is etched in her soul and I can’t fucking shake it loose. I don’t understand it, but I love her enough to accept it.” He swallowed. “She told me what you said, about each of us needing to have her alone. And I agree.” He took a breath. “If you agree.”

I agreed. But he already knew that.

Typically, I took advantage of people’s weaknesses. I struck when they were vulnerable. Unfortunately, I was also a glutton for fucking punishment. “She loves you,” I told him because it felt as though he needed to be reminded.

“I know.”

* * *

Fourteen hours later, Leo was back in New York, and I landed safely in Glasgow. On my way home, I called Chandler.

“We need to move the safehouse to Scotland,” I said as soon as he answered.

“Hello, Grey. I’m doing fine, thanks.”

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