Page 64 of Vicious in the Dark

The atmosphere grew heavy with discomfort and strain. When Wolfe didn’t answer, Maddox rose.

“You can have your old room tonight, Wolfe,” he said, his tone icy andbrittle. “It’s a guest room now. Ace, feel free to take the pull-out bed in the living room.”

Without so much as a glance back at any of us, Maddox stalked from the room.

CHAPTER THIRTY-TWO

RUTHLESS

The sound of raised voices drifted down from the main floor. The house had been quiet for most of the day while we all slept. Ever since Maddox and Wolfe woke up there had been a constant muffled exchange of shouts and insults. Which is exactly why I’d made coffee and toast before retreating right back to the finished basement where I spent a lot of my alone time.

Maddox and I had turned part of the large living area downstairs into a workout room with a games area. Perfect for retreating from the world after an especially tough day. Or week. Or several years.

Needing to release some of the pent-up tension in my neck and shoulders, I put on a playlist of instrumental music and nature sounds. Then I did my best to shut out my awareness of the voices upstairs as I did tai chi. The slow movements and the focus on energy helped me to ground myself when the noise in my head grew too loud.

There was a lot of noise in my head these days.

I’d learned how to manage my demons over the years, keeping them fed and quiet. Every now and then they grew restless and rowdy, threatening to send me spiraling into the abyss of past horrors. Then Maven came home, and it was like throwing raw meat to starving dogs. My demons had been in a constant state of unrest ever since.

Taking a slow, deep breath in through my nose, I closed my eyes and focused on the energy tingling in my fingertips. Then I released the breath through my mouth, seeking to center myself. A sudden thump against the floor upstairs startled me, ruining my sense of calm. Son of a bitch.

Having Wolfe and Maddox back under the same roof was going exactly as I’d expected. Wolfe’s house was so smoke damaged he wouldn’t be able to live there until the insurance company sent professionals to clean the mess. He said he’d get a hotel room, but Maven wanted him and Ace here until the Thorns were gone and we formed a plan for Archer.

We all knew what she was doing, forcing us to stick together. But it was too late for that. Unless the brothers worked out their shit, which I didn’t see happening, close quarters would do more harm than good.

Sucking in another deep breath, I let the sound of waves and bird calls lull me into a calm trance as I went through a series of motions, stretching my limbs. Gradually I became aware of someone watching me.

I turned to find Maven standing in the doorway. She quirked a brow and smiled. “Tai chi? Really? I never would have pegged you for the type. You seem like more of a beating the shit out of a punching bag kind of guy.”

I looked her over, enjoying the sight of her in pajama shorts and a tank top with a lotus flower. Her hair was still disheveled from sleep, and she held a strawberry smoothie in one hand. I’d thought it would get easier to be around her. I was wrong.

Nodding to the punching bag in the corner, I said, “Sometimes I am. What are you doing down here?”

Taunting me with those fucking shorts, that’s what.

“I needed to get away from those two for a few minutes.” She pointed a finger toward the ceiling. “Why? Am I not allowed to be here? Did I venture uninvited into the lion’s den?”

Letting my gaze linger on her gorgeous thighs, I muttered, “Something like that.”

“Well too bad,” she quipped, sauntering into the room. “If I stay in Maddox’s old room any longer, I’ll go crazy. And if I have to listen to those two bicker for even another second, I might just smack their skulls together.”

“Do it then. We could all use the break.” Giving up on my alone time, I turned off the music and went to the bar on the back wall to pour a drink. “It’s your fault though. You brought a syndicate to town, and they scorched Wolfe’s house. You’re the one who insisted on having him and Ace stay here. What did you think was going to happen?”

Maven perched on the weight bench, crossing one leg over the other. Her shorts rode up a few inches, flashing me a delicious glimpse of ass cheek. I forced myself to look away, staring into the glass as I poured an ample amount of vodka.

“Wow, you’re delightful today. I don’t know. I thought maybe they’d act like grown ass men and talk it out. Silly me.” With a roll of her eyes, Maven sipped her smoothie and gestured to my drink. “Isn’t it a bit early for that?”

“It’s almost six pm,” I countered, pouring vodka down my throat. “It’s not really breakfast time, just feels like it.”

I couldn’t stand the way she looked at me. Like I was a puzzle that she wanted to solve. I definitely didn’t plan to make it easy for her.

When she remained silent, I glanced over to find her still studying me, brows knit together. I let out an annoyed huff and turned to face her. “Why are you looking at me like that?”

Maven took a large sip of smoothie, slurping loudly. “Trying to figure out if you’re still the Micah I knew. I know you’ve changed. We both have. But deep down inside, I’m still me. Are you still you?”

My name on her lips weakened me. I didn’t like to feel weak. Uncomfortable with her penetrating blue gaze boring into me, I shrugged, refusing to show emotion. Refusing to feel it. “Who else would I be?”

Maven’s face fell, and she let her black locks fall forward to hide it. A pang of guilt choked me. I stuffed it down, hating myself for needing to stay numb to her. It had taken me a long fucking time to get over her when she left.

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