Page 51

I could flip through both an encyclopedia and a dictionary and still wouldn’t find words to describe us.

Beyond the excitement, beyond the lust, he gave my aching heart a place of comfort that I’d never known. This thing between us was certain death, all smoke and darkened skies with no sign of a sunrise, but I wanted what I wanted, and that was him.

Her moans grew louder and louder, and the headboard hit the wall in a steady rhythm, echoing down the darkened hall.

I glanced over at Arlen and snickered.

“It ain’t funny.”

“Either the sound of fucking makes you irritated, or who’s doing the fucking has you irritated. I’ll take a wild guess and say it’s the latter.”

“I don’t need you to play couch therapist, and Cobra fucked her too so that trumps your theory.”

She tossed the blanket off and sat up, crossing her inked arms over her chest.

“What’s your story?” I already knew it. I just wanted to hear her answer.

“Don’t got one. I was tryna find my sister and got taken by them cannibals.”

Huh, that was almost true.

“Shouldn’t you be kissin ass right now?”

“I could be bending you over––”

“You got bout three seconds to fix that sentence. Don’t give me any reasons to take Cali your balls in the form of a necklace.”

I laughed for what felt like the first time all day.

“I was fucking with you, baby girl. I don’t juggle women.”

I was actually making sure her loyalty was in the right place. If it wasn’t, I was going to kill her quick and tell Cali she ran off.

Fucking Cali.

I needed a drink, and I didn’t drink.

This was the part about giving shit that bit me in the ass. I had a track replaying in my goddamn head of every person she named, and I was gunning for their asses.

My beautiful girl thought she was a whore. Those motherfuckers created thorns on a flower that never had any.

I could see the real her, feel her trapped inside a dark fucking sinkhole that they shoved her in.

Cali knew exactly who she was. She was ashamed of it. She lashed out the only way she knew how because of it. Her head was irreparable because of it. Why had no one told her she was fucking perfect?

I’d never seen damaged look so good. Never seen bruised knees look so pretty. She was so perfect I didn’t deserve her. A better man would’ve let her go but that wasn’t me.

Arlen’s drowsy voice pulled me out of my head.

“Can I ask you something?”

“You just did.”

She gave me a flat look.

“Shoot your shot.”

She got so damn quiet I thought she’d fallen back asleep. Her back was to me and the blanket was almost over her head. Her question almost through me off guard—almost.