Page 55 of Devil's Rage

I looked him over and shook my head. “You look pretty beat up but you’re not really bleeding. Mostly scrapes and bruises. Do you have antiseptic spray? I can help—”

Daniel’s lips crushed onto mine, the man moving so fast that I didn’t have any time to react, and the taste of liquor teased from his tongue to mine as he kissed me deeper. His hand was in my hair, spanning my throat, and his thumb dragged down the line of my jaw. I gasped and he pulled me closer, letting me feel the hard bulge in his pants, his other hand on my ass, and then we broke apart when he all but shoved me away.

“Danny—what the hell?” I spat, but it was weak.

“I should ask you that,” he said slowly and turned a glare on me. “Why the hell are you being so—kind?” The word was harsh, and I flinched. “Why are you acting like I wasn’t a huge asshole to you?”

I went to speak and stopped. I had no idea. I’d been fully prepared to hate Daniel Michaelson forever. But it was easier to do in theory than in person, especially to see him coming home alone, limping and injured, not expecting anyone to care. It had hurt me, and I told myself that I couldn’t walk away. That it was the least I could do for Ty and Lia.

But deep down, I knew that despite everything—I cared about this stubborn man, no matter how sharp his broken edges were and I wanted him with every beat of my heart.

CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE

Sara

“I’m worried about you,” I said and Daniel glared at me.

“So, I get hurt and that clears the deck?” He sneered but I saw the trepidation in his eyes, the hope and fear that I meant what I said. “Do I even have to apologize?”

“It would be nice,” I said, my heart hammering a little harder, and a sense of tears suddenly coming over me. What was wrong with me today? “You wanted to hurt me, and you did. But you also had no idea what you were talking about. I—”

My body moved without thinking because I’d seen it then—a series of round, blackened scars on Daniel’s shoulder. Throat tight, I saw my fingers press into the skin below, and Daniel stilled staring down at me. Without thinking, I looked at himand blurted out, “How can you smoke after someone did that to you?”

Daniel frowned, glancing at my hand, then too quickly understanding flashed through his face and I whipped my hand away, trying to come up with a lie.

“How do you know what a cigarette burn looks like, Sara?” Daniel asked in a smooth voice of dark fury that made me shiver. Without realizing it, I’d started backing away and he pursued me, until I hit the wall. His eyes flashed over me. “Where.”

I couldn’t speak, couldn’t move—I just stared at him and gave a single shake of my head.No. No, I don’t want to talk about this—I don’t want to go there.

“Tell me or I can look, Sara,” he said. His gaze cast to the side. “I don’t remember…” Then he sucked in a breath and grabbed my arm, gently but quickly pulling up my sleeve until he revealed my upper arm and the tattoo there. “You blended them in.” I sucked in a breath as he ran gentle fingers over my identical scars and I looked away, tears hovering my eyelids. “What a thing to have in common.”

A tear fell down my cheek, but I set my lips and glared at him as he turned my face back. Daniel studied me for several moments.

“I’m sorry,” he said, of all things, and I shook my head. “I’m sorry that happened to you and I’m sorry that I was such an asshole. You were—” He made a growling sound and ducked his head. “You were right. And you’re not a coward. I just wantedto get to the only crack in your armor I could see.” He brushed away my tears and I sensed his hands trembling. “I am so sorry.”

“Still not forgiven,” I lied in a rasping voice.

Daniel gave me a dark, sardonic smile as his thumbs swept over my face again, and I realized he was shaking all over, his breathing fast, and his eyes filling with shadows.

“Good,” he said in a soft, dangerous voice that made my heart pump faster and my knees tremble, and again, I couldn’t quite tell whether it was lust or fear filling me. “Let me make it up to you in other ways.” He chuckled, a dark and wicked laugh that made me push against the wall. “Not that, Sara, but you can always ask.”

I shook my head not understanding.

“Who,” he asked in a slow and measured tone that didn’t match the absolute fury in his eyes. And too late, I realized Daniel was shaking with barely contained rage, his pupils dilated, his blood up. “Who thefuckdid that toyou. I want his name, beautiful. Now.”

“He—he’s in jail,” I blurted out.

“I don’t care,” Daniel said, and his chest heaved. Again, he looked at my arm and I tried to twist away, only for him to stop me. “You didn’t judge me—you think I’d judge you?”

“No, I just don’t want to talk about this.” I swiped at my face. “You need to take a shower and you’re hurt—”

“Sara.”

Too late, I realized I was panting, on the verge of a panic attack, and had my hand wrapped around my burns. I tried to move away, to go somewhere—anywhere but under Daniel’s too perceptive eye, but I crashed into his bare chest as he held me against him. I couldn’t help it, I held onto him and tried not to cry, even as old emotions stormed through me.

I don’t want to lose you. You’re not a monster. I hate that you think you’re a monster—especially when I’ve seen the real thing.

When I’d slept, fucked, and loved a true monster who’d tried to break me into a thousand pieces.

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