Page 64 of We End With Us

“I know this is all fucked, Nova.” I scoff, pulling away from them both.

“I just want the truth,” I say.

King devours my lips in a way that has me whimpering like a lovesick fool.

His fingertips touch under my chin as he guides his tongue into my mouth.

I’m breathless when he pulls back, a stunned look appearing on my face when he touches his fingers to my swollen lips.

Furious I shove at him, hard. “What the hell, King? Did you think you could distract me and what, everything would be fine?” I snap.

Cass and Jordy’s eyes flick to me, a deep-throated chuckle escaping both of them.

Turning my furious gaze toward them, I let out a frustrated scream. “I’m not some puppet you can control.”

“Pup, we never said you were,” Cass says, reaching for my hand. Smacking him away, I know I keep going in circles, one minute I want to hate them, then I want them. The tension in the room is undeniable right now, the sound of the door opening has all our heads twisting. Bass walks in, stopping when he notices all of us on the floor.

“Argh, what's going on?” he asks, a bruise is forming over his eye, and it’s slightly swollen like he was beaten.

King stands moving toward him, gripping his bicep he yanks Bass toward him, gazing into his eyes.

“What the fuck, Bass? What the hell is going on?” he demands. Bass shoves King off irritation crossing his face.

“Nothing, they tried to pin something on me, that's all.”

Cass scoffs standing, pointing his finger at Bass. “Tell us the truth, Bass. Who the fuck are you really? Because from where I’m standing, it looks pretty fucking suspicious,” Cass hisses. Bass’ eyes dip to the floor before they find mine, his tongue darts out wetting his lips before he swallows.

“I never meant to hurt Nova, I just wanted to protect you.”

Jordy helps me to my feet before I cross the room stopping in front of Bass. Lifting my hand, his eyes flutter closed when I brush my knuckles across his face. He opens his eyes when I drop my hand. “Did you murder your father?” I ask, knowing the guys are as curious as me to know. Bass shakes his head.

“No, he’s alive, Nova. It was a ruse to get to me, I told you my parents are ruthless. He demanded I take you to him, said he was owed you.” My face drops, his hands thread through my hair, fisting the strands at the back. “I told him to go fuck himself. And he taught me a lesson,” he says.

The bruises, it was his father.

The one thing I can’t figure out is why his father wants me so badly? What good comes of him having me now?

I’m too afraid to ask what deal Bass had to make to protect me because even now I can feel him pulling away.

Whatever Bass is hiding is far worse than I ever imagined. I just wish I could remember something. Anything to help figure out why I’m so important.

Fuck,when Nova looks at me like that I can’t tell her the truth, it’ll fucking kill her.

I can’t ruin this, what we have is fucking special. Focusing my gaze on King, his gaze falls between us to the floor.

My lips twitch and I huff out a breath.

They're all staring at me like they don’t know me, and I guess to a point they don’t. But I’m not losing them, fuck that. I grip Nova’s face pressing my lips to hers. She whimpers under my touch, my tongue tangles with hers before I pull back, she stares up at me for a moment before I spin, grab King and do the same. He’s rigid for a moment, caught off-guard before he takes over controlling our kiss, his fingers grip the side of my face before we both pull apart breathless. King runs a hand over his face, shaking his head like he can’t quite believe I just did that in front of everyone. The first time was nothing like just now.

“Wow,” Nova says, staring at King and I, eyes wide and mouth open.

“Bass?” Cass says, eyeing me over Nova’s head.

“I’m fine, no one will hurt you, Nova, I won't allow it,” I tell her.

“Why does your father want me?” she asks.

“Because you’re a missing piece of the puzzle and he feels like he was cheated when Santonio bought you. He knew Carter had access to your parents, and because Santonio made a deal he couldn't refuse, he couldn’t pass it up, but he knew he wanted more. It’s why he sent Carter in, he’s slowly been working his way into both your lives without the knowledge of who he truly is.

---