Page 1 of Deceptive Games

CHAPTER ONE

SKEETER

Fear mixed with anger as I stared at Rory, her naked body covered in blood. I had no idea what the fuck she was doing at Liam’s house, but if Slash was here too, then it wasn’t good.

What the hell had he gotten her into?

“Answer me!” I barked, losing my cool. “What did you do?”

She looked exhausted, her hands shaking slightly and her terrified eyes pinned on me.

When she still didn’t answer, I turned my glare to Slash, who smirked.

“You should be thanking her. You were right about Liam, and she dealt with it for you.”

“What doesthatmean? Where is he?” I demanded, stalking closer and yanking my shirt off, forcing it over Rory’s head to cover her trembling body.

Slash could claim to hate her, but his eyes kept flicking over her with interest.

“Dead in the van. I’ve called some of the guys to come and help clean up, so get her out of here. I don’t want to deal with your impending argument or the meltdown she’s about to have,” he grunted, pissing me off more. If he’d dragged her into this mess, then it was his fault if she had a meltdown.

Had Liam hurt her? Was the blood on her skin hers, or his?

“Get in the car,” I said sharply to Rory, trying to rein in my anger.

“But I need to help Slash?—”

“Get in the fucking car, Aurora!” I snapped, tossing my keys at her. “I’ll be out in a second. Diesel can drive the Corvette home.”

Surprisingly, she nodded and walked outside without another word, leaving me with Slash.

“She’s fine. I bet you’re hard as a rock after seeing her covered in blood,” Slash joked, and I had to force myself to keep my hands by my sides instead of putting my damn fist through his face.

“What is she doing here? This has your name written all over it.”

“She’s doing as she’s told. You thought Liam was sketchy, so I sent her in to find out for you. She did a good job, I don’t know why you didn’t think of it before. If you have a hot piece of ass on your dick, you might as well make her useful,” he said with a shrug, running his eyes around the room with amusement. “I may have underestimated your little girlfriend. She’s quite the blood-thirsty killer.”

“She’s fucking innocent, Slash. Don’t drag her into our bullshit. You wanted her gone, and you got your wish. Why the fuck are you trying to bring her back in?” I hissed, stepping closer and considering knocking him the fuck out.

A dark chuckle left him as he waited for me to swing at him, a taunting smile on his lips.

“She’s far from innocent. Innocent girls don’t let their flings cut them up, and they sure as hell don’t murder someone. She’s stubborn, but she wants to fit in. Dangle some safety and belonging in front of her and she’ll do anything we ask of her.”

I swung a fist at him and caught his cheek, but he barely reacted.

“Stay the fuck away from her. This ends now.”

“Does it?” His fist shot out when I wasn’t expecting it, making me stumble back a step. “If I tell that bitch to bark like a dog, she’d better drop to all fours and fucking howl at my feet. This is my crew, so fall in line, Skeet.”

“What are you going to do if I don’t? Punch me some more? I’m so scared,” I scoffed, shaking my head and turning to leave, but I paused when he replied.

“Rein it in or that girl you like so much will find herself on the inside of a cell. I think having fingerprints all over the murder weapon will make it a pretty open and shut case, don’t you?”

I turned, the cold look in his eyes mirroring mine.

“You’d go as low as getting a high school girl locked up? She did us a favor, so why the hell would you punish her for it?”

“Punish her? I’d do it to punishyoufor choosing her over us. I don’t give a shit if she rots in a cell or not, she means nothing to me. She means a lot to you though, so the ball’s in your court. Do as you’re fucking told or I’ll force you to in the only way I know will work. That walking gash might be useful after all,” he said flatly, and if I didn’t think he was bluffing, I would’ve beaten his ass.