Page 35 of A Hurt So Good

“Harlon got the doc to sneak over and do some bloodwork. That’s what came back.”

“Who the hell would want to give her that?”

“I don’t know, but we need to find out. I didn’t tell you guys about this, but I didn’t think it mattered until now. Before I knew who Ayra was, she came to the neighborhood and was looking to buy a gun.”

“What the hell for?”

“She said protection,” he tells me.

“From who?” He shrugs.

“Wouldn’t tell me that, but now I’m wondering if this is all connected.”

“We need to do some digging.”

“Yeah. It looks that way,” he says. I nod my head and pull my gloves off before heading to the shower. It doesn’t take me long to wash and redress. I head up the stairs and find Harlon in the living room with his laptop out.

“What are you doing?”

“Checking into things. I want more information,” he says without looking at me.

“Me too. How is she?”

“She’s fine today. A little confused about the bite marks on her body,” he says with a smirk.

“Guess I should go explain them, huh?”

“Probably not a bad idea,” he adds. I turn and head up to her room, and when I open the door, I see her sitting on the balcony with her laptop opened up. She looks to be lost in her work. She doesn’t even look up when I come to stand next to her.

“You look good with my marks,” I declare, scaring the shit out of her. She jolts in her seat and raises her hand to her chest.

“Did you have to scare the hell out of me?” she snaps at me.

“Maybe I like it when you’re scared,” I tell her.

“So you did this to me?” she asks, pulling the front of her shirt down so I can see the bruises I left on her. I bite my bottom lip because fuck, do they look good there.

“I don’t think you remember when you were riding my cock like a little whore.” She raises her eyebrows at me and then stands from her chair. She walks over, coming to a stop right in front of me.

“You bit me.”

“You liked it,” I remind her.

“I’ve never had anyone bite me.”

“Glad I was your first,” I say. She looks up at me, a strange look in her eyes.

“I have bruises, War! Not one, but multiple. I can’t even wear my regular shirts unless I want my mom to see them!” She snaps this time. I wink at her, but that only serves to piss her off more. She pulls her fist back and starts to swing but I catch it easily in my hand.

“Ugh.”

“What?”

“What kind of sick fuck bites people to the point of leaving marks?” she asks while I still hold her fist in my hand.

“What kind of sick little bird likes it?” I ask in return.

“I was drugged, in case you don’t remember.” Anger skates through me, pissing me off further. She must see my eyes darken because she pulls her hand away from me and takes a step back.

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