Page 18 of Cruel Debts (Killers of Port Wylde #4)

FIFTEEN

TRINITY

I woke up with another body in my bed, and instantly, I was on high alert.

Had someone broken into my apartment? Was I in danger?

And then common sense returned to me and I blinked for a moment, re-orienting myself.

This was not my apartment. The man in my bed was not a stranger.

He was Asher, also known as Surgeon, and he was in here because I’d been holding on to too many emotions for too long and I snapped.

Someone had made an attempt on my life last night while I was at work.

I wasn’t safe, even with their protection.

“You’re awake,” he mumbled quietly, his arm twitching around me. “Feel better?”

“You didn’t leave,” I observed, poking him in the ribs. “Why?”

“I was afraid you might need someone.” He yawned, and I glanced up at his face, noticing the lines around his eyes, the tired droop of his lashes.

Did he even sleep last night?

I didn’t want to know. Mostly because if I found out he’d been awake, watching me all night, I’d start to spiral. Did I snore? Did I drool? Do I talk in my sleep? Did I do anything inappropriate? Did we cuddle?

Oh, boy, this was not how I had hoped to get Asher into my bed.

Once upon a time, I’d fantasized about ways to make the guys fall for me. I’d had crushes deeper and wider than the Grand Canyon. But now that I was face-to-face with one, in what could arguably be one of my more vulnerable moments, it wasn’t the same.

All the bravery I’d had when I didn’t think I’d ever see them again had fled my body. All I had to do was look right up at him and fucking kiss him, and I couldn’t do it.

Why?

Because I was a coward.

Because suddenly, I didn’t know what to do with myself. What if he turned me down? I wouldn’t be able to face them a single second longer. I’d have to pack up and—ew—go home.

And that wasn’t happening.

So like the good little chicken I was, I rolled off the bed and out of his reach, sighing when the realization of how close I’d been to a man I burned a torch for this whole time set in.

“Thank you,” I whispered, hating the roughness in my voice, likely from last night’s crying jag. “I’m not usually like that.”

“You used to cry if Keehn left you behind when we went to the mall,” Asher chuckled, sitting up with a groan. “It’s not the first time I’ve seen you turn into a big baby. This time, at least, it was for a totally understandable reason.”

Suddenly, I hated that they’d seen me before I grew tits and a voice. Before I grew the fuck up a little.

Screw this. I turned around, crawling back up the bed with an intense look in my eyes. Asher would never look at me like his buddy’s little kid sister again, if I could help it.

“You know,” I said, making sure to drop my shoulders like a stalking panther as I crawled into his lap and sat down, pretending a bravery I didn’t possess.

“I’m not some whiny little kid anymore.” He leaned back as I leaned forward, trailing a finger down his chest slowly, seductively, like I’d seen the girls in the club do to their marks.

“I’m a grown ass woman with grown ass needs.

” I batted my eyelashes tauntingly, teasingly, hoping to feel the familiar stir of arousal in his pants against me.

“And I’ve always had a thing for a man in uniform.

” I licked my lips, and his eyes flicked there just as I’d hoped, the Adam's apple in his throat bobbing as he swallowed. “Or out of it.”

I’d never seen a man move as fast as Asher did in that moment. He had me on my back in the blink of an eye, his hands braced on either side of my face, hair framing his gorgeous brown eyes. He stared down at me like I was a danger to his health.

He looked at me like I was dangerous, but he still wanted to play with me.

Like a boy about to poke his first poisonous snake with a stick.

“You’re barking up the wrong tree, Pretty Bird,” he growled, his teeth gritted against something he refused to say.

“You’d best get those notions out of your little head, you hear me?

Because the last thing I’m going to do is get involved with you.

” His eyes trailed down my body, and I knew the words coming out of his mouth were lies.

He wanted me. I could see it. Could feel it against my leg.

“Liar,” I whispered, raising my hand to brush the hair from his face. “You’ve never been good at it, by the way.”

“You’re in danger here in Port Wylde,” he snapped, leaning up with a grunt of strain. “And you’re living with some of the most dangerous men in these streets. Remember that next time you want to provoke one.”

I watched him go with a satisfied smirk on my lips, the lust and arousal burning away the self-pity and sadness that had overwhelmed me earlier.

Asher moved his chess piece. Now it was time to move mine.

As soon as I was alone, I started planning.

I knew damn well the guys weren’t about to willingly take me back to my job, not after last night, and I had to get there no matter what. I wasn’t done with the purpose that brought me to Port Wylde, and I wasn’t about to let a single asshole stop me from doing that.

But the secret that I was privy to was burning a hole in my fucking brain. I had three people here who not only knew the asshole wearing my brother’s name, but had access to him.

The easiest way to handle things was going to be to find the weakest link and exploit it.

Or in my case, the man who wanted me gone the most.

Which is how I ended up in front of Hawke’s door in the middle of the day, with a smile on my face, a low-cut shirt on my chest, a push up bra making the display irresistible, and a miniskirt hiked up just a little too far in the hopes that I could appeal to his hornier side if all else failed.

He might hate me, but he didn’t hate sex.

If I had to entice him, well, it wouldn’t be the worst thing I’d ever done.

And it wasn’t like I would mind. Hell, I’d been hot for him and the others for so long it was a miracle I ever lost my virginity instead of holding out for one of them to take it.

Hawke was just the insufferable one. Didn’t make him less hot.

I knocked on the door separating him from me, hoping the plan was enough to get what I wanted. I didn't have to wait long.

Hawke swung the door open with a growl, his brows drawn so far down I could barely see his eyes under them.

"What the fuck do you want, brat?" he snarled, bracing himself against the doorframe as he leaned in to inspect me.

His eyes trailed down my torso, and I could see the moment he caught the idea I'd formed in my head with this outfit.

He licked his lips and let out a groan of appreciation.

So I decided to make my move.

I leaned in and let a slow grin spread across my lips, tongue trailing along the seam of my teeth as he watched. "I was hoping we could talk."

One brow lifted as he stared at me, intrigued. "Oh? Looking like that, what did you plan to talk about with me?"

I put my hands together and pop my tits out just a little more. "Well, I kinda need someone to take me to my job?—"

"Ha. Not on your life. I'm not going against the others?—"

I put a hand on his chest, dragging it down the front of him coquettishly.

"You don't want me here, Hawke. I know that, you know that, the whole world knows that.

So if you help me get out of here, I can get out of your hair quicker.

" I tapped the middle of his chest, hoping he hated me enough to want me gone gone, the faster the better.

"After all, your contract says you'll protect me at work.

But there's nothing that says you're responsible if I slip away, right? "

He seemed to think it over for a moment before a grin spread across his face.

"You're not wrong," he said after a moment, cocking his head ot the side.

"But it's not happening." His finger dragged down the front of my chest, running right between my tits as he laughed.

"But better-looking women than you have tried to tempt me with less clothes on, and failed.

So maybe next time, if you want something from me, you should show up naked.

" His eyes flashed, and I jerked back in disgust. "I might be more agreeable then. "

"Get fucked," I spit, hating that I wanted to take off my clothes just to see if I could persuade him to do it with me. I wanted him, and as infuriating as it was, it was undeniable.

I'd always had a thing for these men. That wouldn't change just because they acted like dicks.

"Oh, and before you try it," he started as I turned around, "maybe skip the slut look on Asher and Liam. They're not as horny as I am on a regular basis. And Liam takes his vow to your brother quite seriously. He wouldn't touch you with a fifty-foot pole and a blindfold on."

"We'll see about that," I said, because I wouldn't be outdone by an asshole like him.

"Oh, please let me know when you plan on trying," he laughed as I stormed away, tugging his skirt down to hide my ass. "Because that'll definitely be a show."

Not if I could help it, it wouldn't.

Especially not if Hawke thought I would fail. Now, it was even more imperative that I succeeded, if only to prove to him I could.

But I would've been lying if I'd said it didn't sting a little to be rejected by Hawke so easily. My pride was wounded, and with a last little huff of annoyance, I slammed the door to my room behind me, stewing as I adjusted my plan of attack.

So sex appeal didn't work. Okay, no worries. I'd just rearrange the method of attack.

Next, I'd try guilt. Then maybe, if that wasn't enough, I would play on their sympathy. And if all else failed, there was always the tried and true method: insulting their pride.

I'd get my way one way or the other. But damned if I didn't wish it were a little easier to do.