Page 54 of F*ck Steal Kill

“I’m not as good as you think, sweetheart. Let me be the judge of what I can handle, okay?”

“That feels like something out of a romance book,” I grumbled, but secretly I rejoiced inside that he’d called me sweetheart. No matter how dark Max’s deeds were, he was still pure in his soul. I’d long given up on mine. But if he didn’t have enough self-preservation to keep himself away from me, I was enough on the dark side not to stop him.

“Maybe.” He chuckled, the sound deep and hearty. “I think you could use some romance.”

“Gag.” I made a barfing sound in the back of my throat, and he laughed even more.

“You’re cute when you’re trying to push me away. I was already hooked, Holland, and now I’m even more enamored of you. I want to know everything about you if you’ll let me.”

I sighed, letting out a big breath, and picked at the comforter, fidgeting as I debated. “I like you too, Max. I’m just worried once you hear all my truths, you won’t look at me the same way.”

“Never, Holland. What I feel for you goes beyond the surface. Trust me?”

I let out the breath I’d been holding. Somehow cute and nerdy Max had lowered my barriers, and I was ready to squeal all of my secrets. If he wasn’t an interrogator, he needed to be.

“Where are the other guys? If I’m going to share, I should tell everyone at once.”

Max nodded, reaching out to cup my jaw and leaning his forehead against mine. His soft green eyes searched back and forth before his lips pressed against mine. They were tender and warm, sending shivers through me. Unlike the first time I’d kissed him, this one felt more powerful, punching me in the gut as elephants trampled over the ants in my belly.

“I’ll be right back,” he whispered, standing from the bed and walking to the door to the adjoining room.

He poked his head through, then stepped back and opened it wider. The other two members sauntered in, Quentin making a beeline straight for me. His hands shook as he tried to find a place to touch me. I rolled my eyes, reaching out to pull him to me.

“I’m not going to break, Q.”

He fell on the bed, scooping me back into his arms, settling me between his legs, my back resting against his chest. Quentin’s body rumbled beneath me, his muscles practically vibrating as he squeezed me to him.

Damn, he’d been scared. Like really scared.

“I’m okay,” I said, trying to reassure him as I smoothed my hand over his forearm.

“No, you’re not,” he argued, his voice rough. “If you weren’t so injured, I’d bend you over my knee and spank your ass until it was red. You scared the shit out of me, Temptress. Don’t ever do that again.”

“I can’t promise that,” I started, pausing when he growled in my ear, “but I’ll do my best,” I finished.

I glanced up, finding Grady watching me, his shirt covered in dried blood. A memory of him talking over me flashed through my mind. I swallowed, trying to come to terms with the fact that the asshole had saved me.

“I’m guessing I have you to thank for taking out that guy?” I asked, no longer pretending not to remember.

He nodded, his eyes glued to me.

“I haven’t forgiven you for what you said, but…” I gritted my jaw, my nostrils flaring as I pushed out the words. “Thank you for saving my life.”

Grady reared back like I’d slapped him again, his eyes wide with shock. His mouth hung open for a second; then everything returned to the resting asshole face he wore so well.

“Let’s start with why you were in that room,” Quentin demanded in my ear.

I debated how much to say. Did I admit I knew they were looking for me, or wait to see if they revealed that?

“I got a message that a pedophile was meeting with a broker in the area. There was suspicion that the child would be quite young. I couldn’t let them harm a kid.” I shook my head in disgust, letting my emotions show. “I paid off the clerk by saying I was surprising my boyfriend and had them direct him to that room.” I paused, deciding to keep the others out of it for now. “But that man came in and wasn’t who I expected. He should’ve been easier to take down, but he was trained. He evaded me and attacked. I honestly thought he was going to kill me.”

The tears fell on their own accord as I replayed the fight in my head. It was one of the first times I’d been terrified. He was bigger and better than me and had taken me by complete surprise. I hadn’t stood a chance.

“Have you ever heard of the Savages?” Grady asked, his voice strained.

I shook my head. Outside of their chatter and the message, I had no clue who they were or why they’d attack me. I wanted to know who they were to my three guys.

I mean, these three guys. They weren’t mine.

---