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With that, her head whips back toward me, her eyes penetrating me with a deep disdain. Despite the goosebumps that spread across her skin, she’s anything but turned on. Rage storms inside her irises and if I wasn’t a job to her, her palm would be leaving a handprint across my face.

She pushes against me, trying to free herself, but it’s a weak attempt. What she doesn’t understand is that I’m not letting go now. She chose to be here, which means she’s going to have to get used to being near me. It’s a small bus and we have six months.

“I wouldn’t do that if I were you.” I warn her.

She stops fighting so much, her breath ragged with fury. “Oh really? Why not? The big bad Khaos is going to drown me in a bucket of paint? News flash, that’s already been done. Haven’t you seen Carrie?”

“It wasn’t paint, Eris.” I whisper teasingly.

“You’re an asshole.” She spits.

“I wasn’t always this way.” I tell her .

Her eyebrow quirks up in disbelief, but I refuse to dive any deeper than that.

I finally let the fabric between my fists go with a slight shove, causing her to stumble back a few steps. She quickly grabs it, making sure it doesn’t fly open and turns to the back of the bus.

“Where are you going?” I demand.

“Bed.” She growls.

“No, you're not. Not if you want your bags back.” I threaten.

I nudge my head toward the open space next to Than in the booth. Her feet shuffle in slow motion as if she’s fighting her own body from moving back towards us. She’s visibly shaking, her rage evident, and I can’t help but feel like I’m winning here.

She plops herself down, on the opposite side of the table from me. Her eyes never wavering from my face. She wants me to feel her resentment and I do. Only it doesn’t have the effect she thinks it does.

“I know the look in your eyes right now, Khaos. You think you’re going to get me to walk away from my job by being a bully, but guess what? I deal with a-holes like you all day long. You’re nothing new.” She bites out.

I scoff, “Guess I’ll have to kick it up a notch then.”

“Jesus.” Kokytos mutters. “Can you guys just chill for a second?”

Ash’s chest rises and falls with quick breaths as if she was injected with a shot of adrenaline. She quirks a brow at me, daring me to do exactly what I just threatened to do, ignoring Koke. It makes me want to play with her, but I can tell the guys are getting irritated.

“So...” Hypnos cuts through the tension.

“That’s what I thought.” She challenges, but before I can get a word out, she turns to Than. “So, how did you all meet? High school? College?”

God, the thought of high school makes me want to laugh in her face, let alone college.

If she even had the slightest insight to my life, she’d be running for the hills.

Suddenly, it doesn’t seem like such a bad idea.

Show her what a monster I really am and maybe, just maybe she’ll give in and leave us alone.

Only, that would require me to divulge secrets no one in this world has been worthy enough to hear.

“We met in Detroit about five years ago. Just some hoodlums banding together to share a common interest.” Hypnos answers.

“Detroit, Huh? I’m not too far from there.” She tells them.

“Born, raised, and never left the big city of Chicago.” I accuse.

Her head tilts in confusion, “What do you know about where I was born and raised?”

“Not hard to google, sweetheart.” I goad her.

Her small nostrils flare and it has to be the cutest thing I’ve ever seen. Like a little Chihuahua playing tough guy, egging on the Pit bull. It’s almost laughable.

“So what? You googled me, decided I didn’t fit your vibe, and now you think you can run all over me until I get sick of it and leave?” She sums up.

“Basically.” I decide her explanation is far better than mine.

“Well look at that.” Than turns his empty wrist to his face, “It’s three in the morning, I’m going to bed.”

“Yeah... This was fun and all, but I’m out too.” Hypnos shakes his head at me and scoots out of the booth.

Before Koke follows the other two, he turns to Ash, “Welcome to the tour. Most of us are glad you’re here.”

She gives him a genuine smile and something inside my chest caves. It feels like a sharp pain from a knife, digging in and settling deep like it's finally home.

It’s just the two of us now, both sitting on opposite sides of the table.

She doesn’t look at me, but I can’t stop from soaking her in.

She’s not at all what I expected, yet I’m not all that surprised either.

Maybe I was just hoping Ash would be easier to push away, even if a small part of me was excited she decided to stay.

The lights shut off, the guys subtly trying to force us to bed, so I stand.

“Unless you want to curl up beside me, you’re sleeping out here on the couch.” I tell her.

“I’m not sleeping out here. Especially naked.” She growls, ready for another fight.

“Suit yourself.” I shrug, knocking her shoulder as I pass her to the room.

She yanks the back of my shirt. “Come on! I’m on a bus with four men I just met today, can you spare me just a little bit?”

“I did.” I yank on my cloak. “And unless you want me to take it back, I suggest you choose one of the options I’ve given you.”

She’s silent, releasing her hold on my shirt, but makes no move. So, I take it she’s sleeping on the couch.