Page 30 of Pretty Dark Vows

Logan rolls his eyes. “Sounds like you already did that last night.”

“Fuck yeah, I did,” Dante says as his grin turns a little feral. My cock reacts to the idea of what he must have done with her to put that look on his face, and he glances over at me like he has some kind of sixth sense, raising his eyebrows in a clear question. “Wouldn’t mind doing it again either,” he adds. “As long as Maddoc decides to say yes so I’ve got the chance.”

Logan looks to me too. I know he’s still against the idea of us getting involved with Riley’s problems. That’s just as clear as how enthusiastic Dante is to bring her into the mix. But the reason we work, the reason I never doubt their loyalty, is that they both know I value their opinions, but that the choice is ultimately mine.

I made the Reapers out of nothing.

I put the Reapers first in everything.

And I lead the Reapers, have the loyalty of my gang, because every fucking one of them respects those two facts.

But this time, I’d be lying if I said I weighed it all out before coming to a decision. There’s something about this girl that pulled me in from the moment she walked in the door, and I think I knew even before I sent her away that I was too intrigued to say no to whatever she had on offer.

But the other thing I know?

If saying yes turns out to be a fucking mistake, my seconds have my back. We’ll do this on my terms, and no matter what goes down, we’ll find a way to use it and come out on top.

We always do.

We always will.

And that’s why the Reapers will always win.

9

RILEY

I’ve been staringat an ugly gouge in the top of the table I’m seated at for what feels like an eternity, but I still couldn’t say whether it’s the shape of a slash or a starburst or a fucking three-headed alien. It’s just a place to rest my gaze while my mind spins a million horrifying scenarios that I can’t seem to shut off, no matter how hard I try.

West Point has had Chloe for more than twelve hours.

My stomach clenches into a knot so tight that I feel sick, and I grit my teeth, forcing the nausea down. I get it under control and peek through my hair at the Reapers. This time, none of them are looking at me.

Good. They didn’t see my moment of weakness. I can’t afford to break down in front of them.

Which means the last thing I should be doing is letting myself think too hard about what Chloe might be going through right now… and Maddoc Gray really is an asshole, because he’s left me no choice but to do exactly that.

I don’t know if it’s a power play or if they’ve really got that fucking much to discuss before coming to a decision, but he’s left me alone too long with nothing but my own thoughts, and the worries that are trying to choke me.

I may have done everything I could to stay under the radar of the local gangs up until now, but that doesn’t mean I’m completely ignorant about the kind of businesses they’re involved in, or the kind of use they might have for a girl “bought” from someone like our father.

I squeeze my eyes closed, as if that will block out reality.

It doesn’t, and knowing that Chloe is in the hands of those thugs right now feels like I’m swallowing razorblades with a chaser of Jack.

When I glance over at the men’s table again, Maddoc is looking at me once more. He pins me with those piercing gray eyes and gestures me back over.

I swallow, my stomach somehow twisting itself into even more of a knot as I press my palms against the table and rise to my feet.

They’ve decided.

Trying to keep my features controlled, I throw my shoulders back and walk over to their table, using everything I’ve learned from being on stage to project confidence. I doubt they buy it, since they already know I’m desperate. Still, nothing good ever came from looking that way.

I keep my focus on Maddoc as I come to a stop in front of their table, since he’s clearly the one who matters here, but his hard-edged features give nothing away.

“Well?” I finally ask after a long moment of silence.

“You’re gonna come with us,” he says, flipping the envelope I gave him between his fingers as he stares at me like that’s supposed to make sense.

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