Page 67 of F*ckboys

Her words pierce the raging storm inside me, a bolt of lightning amidst the darkness. My breathing slows as I focus on her, pushing aside my murderous thoughts. She comes before all else.

"I'm here for you, always." My voice is gentle. "Do you want me to come over?"

A soft sigh. "Would you? I don't want to be alone right now."

"Give me ten minutes." I hang up, throwing on the first clothes I grab and rushing out into the night.

The city streets blur as I race toward Mia, only one thought in my mind. To hold her close, keep her safe in my arms, and never let go. She is mine to look after, mine to protect.

And whoever this 'date' was is going to pay.

I burst through Mia's front door without knocking, frantic eyes scanning the room until they land on her curled up on the couch. She looks up at the sound, face pale and drawn, but a flicker of relief lights her eyes when she sees me.

I'm at her side in an instant, pulling her into a hug. "I'm here now. You're safe."

Her body relaxes against mine, tremors wracking her delicate frame. "Oh Fallon, it was awful. The way he spoke to me, the things he did..." A choked sob escapes her. "I felt so helpless, so afraid."

She recounts the story of how she met the guy at a bar, purposely choosing a public place seeing it was their first time meeting. But he'd insisted on this particular venue, and it soon became evident he'd picked it for a few different reasons. Dark, secluded, he knew the people who worked there. And overall it gave Mia a creepy vibe she couldn't put her finger on. She was terrified of leaving the guy alone with her drink, and when he cornered her in their booth in the dark corner of the bar and started making moves she was terrified.

Rage ignites anew, flames licking at my insides. I tighten my hold on Mia, struggling to contain the inferno threatening to consume me. She needs me, not the avenging fury I feel inside. I take a deep breath, then another, the tumult within settling into a slow, simmering burn.

Vengeance can wait, I'll just add him to the ever-growing list. Mia comes first. She always comes first. Or at least she used to.

I stroke her hair, murmuring soft reassurances as she cries.

When at last her tears subside, I gently lift her chin so our eyes meet. "You are the strongest, bravest, most incredible woman I know. No one, not a single soul, has the right to make you feel otherwise. Especially not that pathetic waste of flesh." My lips curl into a snarl at the thought of him, and I'm overcome with rage fueled by the protectiveness of a long-term friendship.

I want to tell her all the things I want to do to this man to avenge how he treated her. There are far too many men out there like this, who use a woman's desire and openness for love to take advantage of them. To be violent, predatory. And then the woman gets blamed for meeting up with him in the first place. Mia will not be one of those statistics.

I want to chop the man's fingers off so he can never text another woman with them. I want to remove his voice box so he can never speak to another woman. I want to slice off his feet so he can never walk to another date. I want to chop his head off so he can never think about another woman. But instead, I stay quiet. I have a feeling that's not what she needs to hear right now, even though my mind is planning it out in meticulous detail.

Mia places a hand on my arm, her touch feather-light. "Thank you for restraining yourself, Fallon. I don't need a protector fueled by vengeance. I've seen too much of that in you lately, and it's not what I need." Her gaze holds mine, deep blue eyes shimmering with emotion. "I just need my friend. Thank you for being here for me."

Whew. I made the right call there.

"There's nowhere else I would dream of being, unless it was teaching that guy a lesson. But he can wait." They all can wait.

Chapter 36

Fallon

The words of Grave and Mia echo in my head like a haunting melody, their concern for my well-being both touching and infuriating. While I don't believe they intended to double-team me, their combined words are like surround sound. And they have got me thinking, two of the people who care about me most, worrying about me like this. I sit on the edge of my bed, gripping the sheets until my knuckles turn white. They don't understand the darkness that's been eating away at me ever since Aksel betrayed me. But maybe they're right. Maybe I've let it consume me too much.

"Fuck," I mutter under my breath, feeling the weight of their concern bearing down on me. It's true—I've become a shadowof my former self, driven by vengeance and bitterness. I can't continue like this. It's not healthy.

I make a decision: I'll give Aksel another chance. Not because I trust him or because I've forgiven him—no, far from it. I still want to watch him suffer, make him pay for what he did to me. But I need to get close to him again, to find the perfect way to hurt him, just as he hurt me.

My thoughts drift to memories of our time together the other day, and the passion we shared. The way his hands felt on my body, the heat of his lips against mine. The way he felt inside me. The thought alone makes my pussy clench, a warm sensation beginning to spread through my core. It's undeniable—despite everything, I still crave him. Maybe I can use that to my advantage. I can use him sexually, keep him off-balance, and gain the upper hand. He'll let me in close, and I'll use that proximity to find his most vulnerable points. If he dares to hurt me again, I'll be ready.

I stand up, pacing my room as I plan my next move. My heart races with a mixture of excitement and fear, but I push the latter aside. Fear won't help me now. It'll only hold me back. And I refuse to be held back any longer.

"Game on, Aksel," I say, a dark smile spreading across my face. "Let's see if you can handle the fire you started. Let's see how well you can play."

Gritting my teeth, I unblock Aksel's number on my phone again. I hesitate for a moment before typing out the message, my fingers trembling with anticipation.

Fallon: Meet me at our old spot in the park tomorrow at noon.

I hit 'Send' before I can change my mind. Last time we met was about raw, primal passion. This time is about romance and rekindling old flames, at least on Aksel's part.

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