Page 111 of Bite of Sin

“Garrett told me,” Paul shouted, grimacing when Pax tightened his grip in his hair, yanking his head up, making it impossible for him to look at me. “That she let him feed. Fucking traitor. She’ll get what’s coming to her.”

My heart sank when Warner’s eyes filled with shock. He stared at me, hurt sprawled across his face. A lump grew in my throat, regret smothering me as I looked at my best friend. Paul tried swinging at Pax while getting to his feet, and Pax kneed him in the ribs, sending him back to the floor.

“Don’t look so sad, Kali. He’ll forgive you, even for that,” Zan breathed in my ear.

“He won’t,” I ground out, my voice cracking.

“After that conversation I heard, he’ll forgive you for anything.” His quiet words had me freezing. My heart thudded, realizing he’d been listening to us all day. “But I heard you too. He’s a goodfriend.”

“What I said has nothing to do with you,” I whispered furiously, my cheeks flushing.

He chuckled. “Sure it doesn’t.”

“Do we need him anymore?” Pax questioned, hauling Paul back up by the hair.

“No. Don’t make a mess,” Zan answered.

“Wait—”

My shriek did nothing as Pax grabbed both sides of Paul’s head. He twisted hard, and I cringed when the bones in Paul’s neck snapped. Pax released him, and Paul’s body hit the floor with a thud. Guilt invaded me as I stared at his lifeless body. This was my fault. Zan was here because I’d refused to go with him that night.

“He was going to do worse to you,” Zan told me gruffly. “And he knew too much about me. He needed to die.”

“I know too much about you,” I hissed, writhing in his hold. “Are you going to kill me too?”

Instead of responding to me, he spoke to Pax. “Take him out back where they won’t see.”

They. Zan was waiting for Garrett to get here. Nerves swarmed me, my chest tightening painfully. Zan finally let go of my throat but kept his other arm firmly around my waist. I raised my eyes to see Warner staring at Paul’s body, panic etched on his face. Viggo stayed near him while Pax heaved Paul’s body over his shoulder and headed out the front door.

“Into the bedroom, Kali,” Zan ordered, walking us forward. “I don’t want Garrett to see me yet, and he’ll be here in a few minutes.”

Warner jumped to his feet, only for Viggo to drop a hand to his shoulder to stop him. Zan let go of me but grasped his hand around mine, keeping me close. He glanced over his shoulder at the open front door.

“Matt,” he called. “You can come in now.”

Matt strolled inside, his face blank of any emotion as he stopped right inside the doorway. Warner met my gaze for a moment before he looked back at Matt. There was no point in trying to talk to Matt since it was clear he was entranced.

“Matt,” Zan drawled, pointing at Viggo. “Who is he?”

“He’s someone who came with me from Project Hope,” Matt answered. “A Clover who knows Warner and Kali.”

“That better be what you say too,” Viggo said, his voice laced with threat as he shot a look at Warner. “Got it?”

“Get fucked,” Warner ground out. “I won’t play along with whatever you’re planning.”

“Fine,” Zan replied.

I cried out when he suddenly spun me around and began tugging me toward the door. Warner started shouting, and Zan stopped, turning around to face him. I did the same, seeing Warner on his knees with Viggo’s hand on his shoulder to hold him down.

“If you don’t do what we want, then I’ll leave my brothers here to deal with you, and I’ll take Kali away right now,” Zan said in a dangerously soft voice. “And you won’t see her again.”

My heart stuttered. “Zan—”

“Play along, and I’ll just take her into the bedroom like I’d planned and wait for Garrett to get here,” Zan continued. “Your choice.”

Warner’s face grew a shade darker, his chest heaving as he met my eyes. “I’ll do it. Just don’t take her.”

He was going to take me anyway.I didn’t voice that thought, though, because I wanted Warner to survive this. If he knew Zan wanted me, he’d fight. And he’d lose. I didn’t struggle against Zan as he led me toward the bedroom. Before we stepped inside the room, Zan stopped and looked at Warner one last time.

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