Page 100 of Darkness of Mine

After a moment, he nods.

I bite my lip, an uncomfortable feeling settling in my stomach. “River,” I say, “you remember our rules, right?”

His voice is gruff. “I remember.”

“Good.”

River taps me on the ass. “Go on, get some sleep. I’ll see you in the morning.”

“Sir, yes, Sir.” I give him a wry smile and get another pat on the ass for my trouble.

I leave River to his planning and head across the hall to Oz’s room.

My heart softens seeing him leaning against the headboard, reading his book. Except as soon as his gaze settles on me I regret my decision to come here. He sees too much and right now the last thing I need is any of the guys figuring out what’s going on inside my head.

“I, um, I’ll be back in a sec.” I start to back out but Oz’s gaze narrows.

“Stay,” he orders.

I grip the edge of the door but my feet still.

“Come here.”

“I was just going to get something.”

He lays the book he was reading down on his lap and tilts his head. “Pretty sure I told you tocome here.”

My core tightens even as I curse myself for thinking I ever had a chance of backing out. Oz only gets like this when we’re in the bedroom and unlike River, whose orders make me want to fight, I find I can never say no to Oz.

I come properly into the room and climb onto the bed so I’m kneeling in front of where Oz is sitting cross-legged. “I need a glass of water,” I say, trying one last time to get out of this before it’s too late.

His eyes sharpen behind the wire frames of his glasses, and he reaches for his phone. “Eli can get it.” He types out a message with one hand, barely breaking eye contact with me.

“Eli’s joining us?”

Oz hums. “Yeah, I think you might need him.”

My shoulders drop. “I’m fine, Oz.”

“Uh huh.” He puts his book to one side and reaches out to tug on my braid. “What are you hiding, Mo Leannan?”

I press my tongue to the roof of my mouth and hold his gaze. “Nothing.”

He sits forward and flips me before I can react. My back bounces on the bed and I find myself looking up at a very dominant Oz.

His hand settles on my hip. “You know, good girls don’t lie.”

“Who ever said I was good?” I smirk up at him, playing with fire like I want to get burned.

Oz shakes his head, seeing through my façade far too easily.

My smirk fades as the truth of my words reverberate through my body. I’m notgood.

Oz drags his hand up to the nape of my neck, cradling me in his palm. “You’re scared,” he whispers.

“I’m seeing the man who abused me tomorrow. Don’t I get to be scared?”

Oz’s eyes shutter. “Of course you do, but that’s not what this is.”