Page 51 of Die for You

“Where were they?” It’s rare that I don’t know where the Devils are. Either on the ice, in the gym, at the dining hall, in class, or at home. Or in a car with me.

Anticipation bubbles in my stomach at the memory of the three of them in Damien’s SUV with me. Knox groping me, Finn pulling my hair, and Damien’s fingers between my legs.

I can’t even imagine what it would be like to have all three of them inside me at once. Probably as close to heaven as I can get while still breathing.

Although I doubt they’ll let me breathe much as they take turns inside my mouth?—

I force another gulp of disgusting beer to distract myself and nearly gag. A mistake.

Even though I don’t know Luke or Trey quite as well as their girlfriends, their expressions tell me they know exactly where the Devils were, but they’re keeping their mouths shut. They don’t want me to know.

Hot anger builds in my veins. The Devils stalk me for months, keep me under surveillance, grope me in a car, act like they care about me, and now?—

Now, they’re fucking some puck bunny. Where else could they be that their friends wouldn’t want me to know?

They don’t owe me anything. They didn’t ask to be my boyfriends or tell me they love me. I have no right to be pissed.

But that’s all I am. The only feeling swirling in me that I can name.

Sienna grinds with Luke amongst the other drunk partygoers who are half-heartedly dancing in the middle of the living room. Trey and Juliet are entwined in a dark corner, mouths twisted in devious smirks like they’re plotting something salacious and indecent to do to each other.

I am the fifth wheel.

Steeling myself, I down the last of my beer like a shot of medicine and call out to my friends that I’m taking off. This is the second disappointing party I’ve been to this semester, and I think it’s time to call it. Parties aren’t for me. I’d literally rather be studying right now.

I aim for the door, weaving between hot, inebriated bodies until I slam into a brick wall.

A meaty brick wall. Made of impossibly soft cotton covering hard, immovable muscle.

My eyes travel up and up and up until?—

A gas mask covers the Devil’s face. But I recognize his stature. That characteristic tilt to his head as he studies me far below him.

“Damien—”

Behind me, a warm body brushes against my back. Arms wrap around my middle, familiar and strong. An anchor keeping me from drifting out to sea. In my ear, he murmurs, “Hey, beautiful.”

I can’t fight the smile that tugs at my lips.Knox. My heart slams against my ribcage at their proximity, the heat radiating from their massive bodies, the sandalwood and minty scent of them.

“Where were you?” I search the crowd around us, but Damien and Knox are the only two in masks.

Finn is nowhere to be found. My stomach dips with disappointment. I want all three of them here with me.

When neither of the Devils answers, I narrow my eyes. “Wherewereyou?”

Finally, Damien steps closer, voice dangerously low and distorted through his mask. “We went to pay your ex a visit.”

The hairs on the back of my neck stand up.Shit. If the Devils got Jeremiah alone somewhere, who knows what kind of state they left him in. Especially after they learned he put his hands on me.

I search Damien’s shirt and Knox’s knuckles, but there isn’t a hint of blood on either of them.

My pulse picks up speed. Where the hell is Finn? There must be a reason he’s not here with them, and it’s not good.

“What did you do?” I whisper.

“Trashed his place. He wasn’t there. But we left him a message.” Damien folds his arms. Over my head, he and Knox meet each other’s gazes through their masks. Both wearing cocky grins, I’m sure.

A deluge of relief washes over me. As much as I would love for the Devils to knock Jeremiah’s teeth out, that will only fuel the flames. His parents will bail him out of whatever trouble he might find himself in, and it will only be the Devils who suffer any consequences for this whole mess.