Page 13 of Deceptive Games

Slight panic washed through me, and Skeeter’s fingers caressed the back of my neck in a weirdly affectionate way.

“I’ll talk to them about it. He was a rat, we would’ve killed him anyway.”

“We have rules,” Slash argued.

“Rules you already broke by sending an outsider into his home in the first place. She shouldn’t have known anything, but you told her we had a weak link and to weed him out. Information like that in the wrong hands can break a crew.”

“So you admit you don’t trust her.”

“Right now, I don’t trustyou,” Skeeter growled, the others flicking their gazes between the two. “You’re scheming behind everyone’s backs. Yes, we have rules in place, but we also have rules about bringing in outsiders. You put a target on her, so now you can talk your way out of it. I’m loyal to you and our crew, but I won’t let you put the blame on Rory for this shit and watch herget hurt over it. This one’s on you, and I’ll make sure they know that.”

“You’re siding with her over me?”

“I’m doing the right thing. Do yourself a favor and don’t bother her again, I mean it. You don’t want me to embarrass you by putting her first? Don’t do dumb shit that forces me to make that choice in the first place. She did as you asked despite her trauma, and when our lives were on the line as well as the future of our crew, she put us first. Remember that when you’re making her out to be the enemy.” He turned to me, and I could tell he was annoyed by the entire situation. I could have avoided this if I hadn’t gotten involved in the first place. “If you don’t get your shit together, I can’t protect you. The guys might listen to me about the situation you put yourself in, but they’ll still see you as a liability. Inner psychopath, remember? No feelings about it. My guys won’t stand for you running around having meltdowns, so prove to them that you’re not a problem. Got it?”

“It’s hard.”

“So’s digging your own grave. Choose wisely,” he said sharply, his fingers raking through my hair gently before he jerked his head at Slash. “Let’s go. We’ve got shit to do. She’s fine.”

“The second this shit gets out, she’s going in a hole,” Slash said loud enough for everyone to hear, and when I went to flip him off, Skeeter’s hand shot out and squeezed my hand so hard that my knuckles cracked.

“I’m saving you from yourself at this point. Stop being a fucking brat,” he scolded, making me hiss out a breath as he swatted my ass where my cut was, surprisingly dropping his lips to mine briefly. “Stay home today. I mean it. I’ll talk to you later.”

“Okay,” I said softly, watching him leave with Slash glaring at me as they went.

“Jesus Christ, Rory,” Caden said under his breath, pity in his eyes. “Why the hell would you even want to team up with Slash in the first place?”

“That’s something you’ll never understand, rich boy,” I scoffed, moving towards Lukas and giving his hand a squeeze. “Thanks.”

Lukas’ smile was warm but unsure as he held my hand a little longer.

“If you need me to stay, just say so.”

“You’re leaving. I’ve got her,” Caden said bluntly, and Lukas didn’t even skip a beat.

“And I can come back if she wants me to. I’ll be at Jensen’s,” he answered, finally letting my hand go, but I grabbed his wrist.

“Can you stay a little longer?” I asked, not ready to be alone just yet. “Please?”

“Of course,” he said and lifted his hand to tuck my hair behind my ear, making Caden growl.

“You’re safe here. Do you think I’ll let anything happen to you? I can protect you just as much as Luke.”

An huff left me, and I absently leaned against Lukas as I gave Caden the side-eye.

“I don’t want to spend time with you. Your ability to keep the boogeyman away has nothing to do with it.” I started tugging Lukas towards the stairs, and I rolled my eyes as I heard Caden hit something. Tyler scolded him and called him out for his tantrum, and I was pretty sure they ended up throwing hands at each other.

I couldn’t care less if they beat each other up, and it seemed that Lukas didn’t either as he locked us in my room and got back into bed with me.

“How’d you even get in earlier? I locked the door,” I mumbled as I got comfortable, his eyes flashing with amusement.

“Spoiled rich kid, remember? I know how to pick a lock to access the wine cellar, so your bedroom door is easy. You want to watch another movie?”

“Do you have time?”

“I’ll stay all night if you need me to,” he murmured, pressing a kiss against my hair and going silent as he reached for the remote and picked another movie.

He didn’t leave until well after dark, pressing a kiss to my temple as he snuck out of my room when I was half asleep.