Page 31 of Relentless

Once I’m feeling a little stronger, I turn my eyes back on the man above me.

“Twice in the same night,” I taunt, remembering all too vividly the way he held me against the couch not so long ago. “Anyone would think you like having me at your mercy.”

“Oh, Pet.” He growls. “You’ve no idea.”

His eyes bounce between mine before they glance to his best friend.

“I think JD likes it too. He’s been missing you,” he teases. “I really think you should forgive him and cheer him up a little.”

I bite down on my lip to stop from responding.

“She doesn’t look like she wants to play, bro.”

Finally, he releases my wrists and sits up, giving me a full, close-up view of his inked chest and stomach. He isn’t as hard as he was downstairs, but there’s definitely some interest going on inside his boxers.

“Can’t say the same about you. You claim to be a better man, but really, you’re just a younger, prettier version of your father, getting your kicks while making a woman bend to your whim.” His eyes flare with anger at being compared to his father. “But I’m not that little girl anymore. I’ve grown and matured. And in case you weren’t aware, I’ve been trained to fight back.”

I know my performance not so long ago didn’t exactly show it, I blame the explosion of anger that took over my body the second my eyes landed on my husband’s still form on the cot in my cell. Mav has spent the last five years ensuring I have the skills to fight off any man who tries his luck with me. My aim is solid, and I have every confidence that I could have both of these gangsters on the floor in tears, should I want to try hard enough.

I can’t help but smile as the image of them rolling around clutching their junk fills my head.

“What’s funny?” JD asks, a deep frown between his brows.

I shake my head. “Nothing you’d understand. Can you get off me now?” I ask, smiling sweetly at Reid. “Unless you’re going to make it worth my while, I’m not interested in having you on top of me, or touching me, really.”

He sneers before climbing from the bed gingerly, as if I’m about to throw myself at him again.

The fact I’ve got him second-guessing me makes something bloom in my chest.

He likes control, for everyone to be singing from his hymn sheet, but he’s never going to get that from me.

I’m so far from his sheet that I’m in my own book.

He backs toward the door and when his eyes flick toward the TV, I can practically read his thoughts.

“I’ll be good,” I lie, smiling at him like an obedient child. It’s a look I was forced to perfect over the years, and it comes all too easily.

“Shame I don’t believe you.” He scoffs.

“Fine, lock me up again. Really makes no difference to me.”

I push myself back against his headboard and cross my arms beneath my breasts.

“What can she really do?” JD asks, trying to get back on my good side.

Reid glares at his best friend, suspicion dancing in his dark eyes.

“It’s not her I’m worried about.”

Oh, the power.

I shouldn’t be as pleased as I am about causing a rift between these two best friends. But really, I’m smug as fuck.

“What’s wrong, Reid? You not trusting your BFF all of a sudden? That’s gotta hurt after all these years of bromance.”

JD’s face twists in frustration, but he doesn’t say anything. How can he? We all know he’s the weak link here. If anyone is going to be convinced to let me into the basement to see Mav then it’s going to be him.

“If you’re going to start arguing, can you please do it elsewhere? I’m not interested in your little domestic drama.”

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