Page 86 of Deceptive Games

When he moved to grab me again, I slapped him, reaching for my knife but stopping when Diesel appeared beside me.

“What the hell is going on?” he asked flatly, already glaring at Slash, who put his hands up.

“I just wanted to talk to her.”

“Skeet already told you to leave her alone. You really decided to come here just to fight with her? On her birthday? Be an asshole another time,” Diesel scowled, and I turned to head back into the house without another word, my shoes forgotten.

I heard Slash call for me, but I didn’t turn around. I couldn’t handle this shit, and my mind was at war with itself once more.

There was something wrong with me if I was still attracted to him after what he’d done.

I needed to get fucked up enough to shut my stupid head up.

Tyler

“What’s up with her?” Caden asked with a frown, motioning to Rory as she stumbled past us to the kitchen for a fresh beer. She’d snuck off earlier before Slash had arrived, returning with a pissed off look on her face, no shoes, and a determination to write herself off.

Slash had slipped out without saying goodbye, but Diesel was acting cagey about it.

They’d probably had some crew business to deal with or something.

“What do you mean?” I asked as I sipped my whiskey.

“She’s been acting weird all night,” Caden replied, sliding his gaze to Diesel, who followed her. Rory was a mess, but I’d just put it down to her hating her birthday and wanting to fuck herself up.

“I think she’s struggling with her trauma,” Jensen stated as he joined us, obviously watching her too.

“How was she this morning?” I asked, looking at Caden, who shrugged.

“She was fine. Mom did a big breakfast for her and they hung out. She bought her some new clothes and a few small things, but she didn’t want to overwhelm her. I think it’s just been a lot lately, so let her go crazy tonight to let it all out.”

“She’s getting too friendly with Diesel,” I grumbled, watching as she laughed at something he said and leaned against him, his arm shooting out to hold her up as she stumbled slightly.

From the way Skeeter was glaring at them from across the room where he was selling coke to someone, he must have been thinking the same thing.

The house was packed, music thumping as people drunkenly staggered around doing shots. No one here really gave a shit about Rory, and part of me wished we’d just done something here for us.

I headed towards Rory with a grin, swatting her butt playfully. “Hey, birthday girl. You want to dance with me?”

“She’ll probably throw up on you if you spin her around the dance floor,” Diesel warned, his arm remaining around her to hold her up, but she groaned.

“Don’t be a buzzkill! I can totally dance!”

“She needs some water,” he said, ignoring her. “Alcohol poisoning for her birthday would suck.”

“She’s fine, dude,” I said and rolled my eyes, taking Rory’s hand to tug her against me.

“I need to pee,” she announced, swaying as she tried to walk off on her own.

“I’ve got her,” I chuckled as Diesel went to help steady her, and I guided her from the loud room and upstairs to my bedroom to use my private bathroom.

I had to help her get her jeans down so she could sit on the toilet, her arm braced on the wall beside her to stop herself from pitching forward. I’d never seen her this wasted before.

She giggled to herself as she relieved her bladder, and I winced as she yanked half the damn roll of toilet paper off the holder and almost fell forward as she went to wipe.

“Do you need me to help you?” I asked dryly, not particularly wanting to get that kind of personal with her, but not wanting her to crack her head open if she fell off.

“Ew, no,” she whined, and I stepped closer so she could hold onto me.