Page 48 of Don’t Hate Me (Secrets of Ravens Hollow #2)

I stare back at him, wondering how long he’s known that for.

I had my suspicions after the day I went in for questioning but didn’t really think Jagger would go there.

“Not so fucking straight then. Great.” I pull free of Reef’s grip on me and start to pace again, erratic energy coursing through me in a way I can’t stand.

I need to get back home so I can deal with this mess.

My eyes flick around the kitchen, feeling like the walls are starting to close in on me.

“He said he has her under control,” Onyx tries to assure me, but his words do nothing.

“I’m sure he thinks he does, but you know Jagger, he’s hardly the sharpest tool.

One slip-up is all it’s going to take, and everyone will know who I am.

Then I will have some fresh target on my back.

” Panic courses through me at the thought.

This just keeps getting worse, and there is nothing I can do from this fucking island.

Onyx moves in front of me, his glare narrowing as his hands come to my shoulders, his grip firm. “You need to have more faith in your brother, Sloane, that man has kept you safe a long damn time,” he growls, and I know I’ve just pissed him off.

I match his intensity, tilting my head up defiantly.

Fuck him for sticking up for my brother.

“He also lied to me my whole damn life and didn’t fucking deal with Syd when he had the chance, even though he told me he had,” I spit back, my temper getting the better of me.

I know my fight is with Jagger, but Onyx is sticking up for him, so he cops it.

“Your brother would do anything to keep you safe, and he has, so don’t disrespect him.

Trust him. So what if he’s in bed with the new commissioner?

You shacked up with a detective. We all make it work for us, and having her a little more pliable isn’t dumb, it’s smart when we all know there are Moretti soldiers planted within her team.

We let it get out of hand and it won’t be long until they have Ravens Hollow in their filthy grip again, even with all the hard work Alex and the others did. ”

I glare back at him, knowing he’s right but not wanting to admit it. So instead, I storm away from him. From them both. They don’t get it, how badly I need to fix this myself. This is my family shit, and I want to be the one to make it right.

“Come back to training, I’ll teach you some grappling moves. Reef will help,” Onyx says as I reach for the door.

I glance back to them, my heart racing, adrenaline pumping so hard it’s making me feel crazy.

Reef cocks his brow cheekily, and I can see he’s all in with the helping, his dirty mind clearly going someplace else than self-defense when he thinks of grappling moves.

I huff out a breath, knowing this is too important to walk away from just because I’m now in a terrible mood.

I’m so sick of feeling trapped here, but I can’t run either.

The best I can do is prepare for the war that I know is coming.

“Romeo better be back in the next couple of days, otherwise I’m finding a way off this fucking island and I’m going to take care of this shitshow myself. Do you two understand me?”

Reef’s hands come to my shoulders. “He will be back as soon as he can, wildcat, but he’s gone to Italy. It’s not a quick trip, and who knows what he’s dealing with. Just relax and let us take care of you.” He kisses my forehead.

“I can’t relax. Syd wants me dead, Emilio wants me dead. The fucking commissioner is my auntie, and she’s hunting me down for her own reasons. I feel like a sitting duck stuck here on this island.”

“You’re safe here.” He kisses my lips, trying to placate me, but I can’t soften into him. I’m totally on edge.

“Get your ass back to the gym, Sloane,” Onyx grumbles.

I throw him a bitchy-as-fuck look but stalk away from them and back into the gym. Least I can take out my frustration on them.

“Reef, take Sloane down to the mat. I want to see how she’ll get out of it,” Onyx says, all business. I can tell he’s still annoyed with me. Well, good, I’m annoyed with him as well.

In one move, Reef has me flat on my back, his weight pressing down on me. My hands pinned above my head. I stare up at him, my breathing ragged.

“See how easy it is to trap you? Legs tight around your waist. Reef’s weight on your ribs stopping you from sucking in full breaths. You think you can fight like this?” Onyx towers over us, taunting me.

“I’ll fucking die trying,” I spit back.

Reef laughs, and I feel it right through my chest. “I’m sure you would, but we want you alive, wildcat.”

Onyx’s eyes meet with mine, deathly serious expression on his face. “You want him off you? Trap his arm. Hook your foot with his. Then bridge, hard,” he growls out his instruction.

I take on what he’s saying then go for it, our bodies shifting as I flip Reef over, landing on top of him. His hand moves to my waist way too casually, but I can see he’s proud of me.

“Good work, trouble. You have the upper hand. But don’t think your attacker wouldn’t be capable of capturing you again from this position.”

In one quick move, Reef wedges an elbow against my inner thigh, creating space.

I try to stop him but he’s too fast and turns me on my side, sliding out from under me and onto his knees.

He wraps his hand around my throat and knocks my knees out to the side in his next move.

I’m immobilized, panting and even more frustrated.

“Now what, wildcat? Or we could stay and play just like this.”

Just because he’s being way too flirty, I bring my elbow back into his gut, and he loosens his grip on me with a grunt. Just enough that I can push forward to escape him. I jump to my feet, ready to run.

But Onyx captures me, his hands snaking around my front. His lips come to my ear. “Good work, trouble. Next time you really want to hurt him, go for the throat like I showed you earlier.” He chuckles in my ear darkly, and I can see he’s imagining it. Psycho.

Reef shakes his head. “Next time she can spar with you, asshole,” he says, rubbing his side where I got him nice and hard. He drops his lips, kissing me. “You did good.”

“Thank you.” I smile, knowing he let me out.

If it was life and death, he would have had me.

I need to find a damn weapon in this place, anything to arm myself with.

I love Onyx’s idea on how to kill a man with my bare hands, but I’m not stupid enough to believe I would be capable of really doing it.

“You two going to let me go and get on with my day?” I ask when it feels like the two of them are caging me in, Reef at my front and Onyx still holding me from behind.

“Nah, we’re not done with you yet,” Onyx says, and Reef smirks wickedly.

Reef’s hand moves to my waist, tugging me toward him until our lips meet. As he kisses me, my hands tangle into his T-shirt.

At the same time, Onyx sucks on my neck in a way that makes me weak at the knees, a thrill vibrating through me that soaks my panties.

I pull back from Reef, just a little, knowing where this is going. The three of us have gotten way too comfortable together stuck in this place. “I’m in my sweaty workout gear,” I warn him.

“That’s not going to stop us, wildcat.” The way he looks at me has me sucking in a breath and trying to get my racing heart under control. His lips drop to my ear. “And I think you need to get rid of your frustrations. Let us help you.”