Page 103 of Crave

In that same goddamn room at The Order.

Back in his hands.

My body wasn’t mine.

It never had been.

“Angel?” Gabe sounded terrified now, stepping closer, reaching for me like he could somehow fix what’d been broken in me for years.

I recoiled.

“I’m poison,” I choked out. “I ruineverything.”

His expression cracked. There was a shake of his head. Still, those beautiful, sorrowful eyes held me transfixed and I knew I caused it.

I caused his pain and his torment.

If I could’ve only just died.

If I could’ve only had the strength to turn that gun on myself, then none of this would’ve happened.

I stepped backwards, my gaze moving to the door.

“Please, Angel.Stay.”

I didn’t let him finish. Instead I lunged for the door, yanked it open and stumbled out.

Darkness closed in around me. Cold, pressed in, leaving me shivering. I didn’t know where I was going. All I knew was I needed out.

I sprinted down the hall, feet bare, breath ragged, head pounding with commands that weren’t mine.

CONTROL.

SUBMISSION.

OWNED.

My vision blurred. My steps faltered. I wasn’t in the house anymore.

I was at The Order.

Look at the screen.That vile voice whispered.Look how fucking perfect you are when I fuck you.

A cry ripped free as I ran, tearing around the corner. My body moved on its own. My mind screamed at me to go to my room, to lock myself away, but that wasn’t the command I was following.

Instead, I stopped outside his door, watching the lights from inside spill under the door.

Silas.

He was the one I needed. The only one who could keep the beast inside my head at bay. The one who was even more savage than the monster who controlled my mind. Only this time…I wanted it.

I lifted my shaking hand.

But I didn’t even have to knock.

The door swung open.

Silas stood there, still shirtless, the glow from his bedside lamp making shadows dance across the hard ridges of his stomach and the lines of his arms.