Page 14 of Jezebel’s Liberation (Hellfire Hackers #1)

“ S hit.”

The word slips through my clenched teeth when I roll over to turn the alarm off on my phone. Sharp stinging sensations cascade up and down my body, reminding me of the hell I lived through the past week, and my stomach clenches as the smell of coffee and bacon filters into my room.

Phantom must’ve made breakfast.

Narrowing my eyes, I sit up slowly, aware of my injuries. With every twist and turn, pain assaults me. It took every ounce of willpower not to show how much I hurt when the guys helped me leave the clubhouse, but now that I’m home, I’m afraid I won’t be able to mask it much longer.

My feet sink into the plush carpet, and with a grunt, I push off the bed and slowly walk into my en suite. The swelling has diminished somewhat in my left eye, but dark bruises still line my face. I want to hop in the shower, but I know I need help, and there’s no way in hell I’m asking Phantom.

Maybe I can ask Mel to stop by after work.

After brushing my teeth and washing up as well as I can, I run a brush through my knotted hair. The person staring back at me in the mirror looks as if she went a couple of rounds with Mike Tyson and lost. I grin in spite of myself, knowing I’m alive because of Demon and Phantom.

Speaking of Phantom, I hope he kicked Demon out like I asked him to…

demanded is more like it. I don’t need the reminder of the club right now.

My focus today is getting in contact with my team and assuring them I’m okay before Phantom can fill their head with bullshit about me being some kinda vigilante.

Well… I guess I am, but they need to hear it from me, not him.

I take it slow as I pull on an oversized shirt that reads ‘Well, that’s just tickle my twat fantastic’. The burns on my thighs are aching, so I reapply the burn cream Abyss gave me, and leave my legs bare for now.

Gripping the handrail, I slowly climb down the stairs, each step agonizing, but I refuse to yell for help. My mouth waters the closer I get to the delicious smells. I turn the corner and stop dead in my tracks when I see Demon standing over the stove frying bacon, shirtless.

Holy fucking muscles! His shoulders and back are delectable.

Focus!! He’s with the enemy.

Okay, enemy is a strong word, however, I wasn’t blowing smoke when I told him to get the fuck out last night or when I told Soul I wanted nothing to do with the MC right now.

Disregarding my feelings on the matter is a surefire way to make me homicidal.

Demon picks up a coffee mug and takes a sip, turning around slowly when he hears my gasp.

His gaze rakes over my body from head to toe. I feel exposed, as if he can see every flaw, secret, and desire that I have. His eyes bulge as he reads the writing across my chest, and coffee flies from his mouth, hitting my tile floor.

I scowl. “What the hell are you doing here, Demon?”

He grabs a towel and quickly wipes up his mess. “Where’d ya get that shirt?” he asks, ignoring my question.

“A friend.”

“Another secret friend?” he sneers.

I place my hands on my hips. “I don’t owe you or anyone else any explanations.”

“The fuck you don’t,’ Demon counters. “Me and Phantom saved your ass from god knows what, and you think I don’t deserve an explanation?”

I shrug. “Where is Phantom?”

“Is he the only one you care about?” Demon shouts. “He went home.”

He left? He’s not the one I wanted gone.

It doesn’t surprise me. All of my hackers will probably quit once they find out what I’ve been doing without anyone’s knowledge.

Marching over to Demon, I poke him in the chest. “What is your problem?”

Demon laughs humorously. “My problem? Shit, I don’t know.

Maybe it’s the fact that you disappeared for five fucking days without a trace, or that a strange man no one has ever heard of broke into your house looking for you,” he shouts.

“Or maybe it’s the fact that I found out the hard way that my girl is stalking sinners with no fucking back up!

Oh, and then you have the balls to ask me where Phantom is. ”

Did he just say ‘his girl’ ? The fucking nerve of this guy.

“Let’s get one thing straight. First, I’m not your girl, or anyone else’s.

Second, this is my fucking house, and I’ll ask where someone is if I damn well choose.

” My chest heaves as I struggle with the emotions raging war within me.

“I appreciate you coming to my rescue, really. But did it ever occur to you to actually listen to what I was saying when I was fighting with Soul?”

He looks at me, dumbfounded. “Whaddya mean?”

I throw my hands up in exasperation. “Space, Demon. I need fucking space from the club. You being here is counterproductive in giving me what I’m asking for.”

“It’s not an issue for Phantom to be here, though, is it?” he asks sarcastically.

I roll my eyes. “Phantom isn’t a member of Saints Purgatory, and his loyalty lies with me.”

“Because you’re fucking him.”

My eyes widen in shock. “Not that I owe you shit, but I’m not fucking Phantom.

He’s a friend, a colleague.” I point toward the front door.

“Get the fuck out of my house before you need Abyss to patch you up.” I spin on my heel to leave when Demon’s hand grabs my bicep and flips me around to face him again.

“Fuck… I’m sorry,” he says when I wince. He runs his hands through his hair and blows out a breath. “ I’m loyal to you, too, Jez.”

“You have a funny way of showing it,” I snap.

“Damn it, Jez. I am,” he huffs.

My anger dissipates, replaced by sadness. Demon believes what he’s saying, but it couldn’t be further from reality, and for once, I wish it could be true. “You might’ve been yesterday, but if Soul orders you to tell him about what happened, you’ll have to.”

Demon stomps over to me. I take a few steps back until I hit the wall. He cages me in with his arms on both sides of my head, his rock-hard body inches away from mine. It takes everything I have not to pull him closer as desire floods my core. I shudder as I peek up at him through my lashes.

Down girl! He’s off limits.

But Phantom’s not?

My mind’s at war with my body as he leans in.

“I think we need to settle something right now,” he says huskily as his face inches toward mine.

“Soul already ordered me to tell him, and I kept your secrets. Granted, I don’t know everything, but don’t you think for one damn minute that I’m not loyal to you.

I’ll always protect your secrets because you. Are. Mine.”

I shake my head. “I’m not y?—”

Demon crashes his lips to mine, silencing my protest. His tongue invades my mouth as he attacks with sweet brutality. I realize what it is before I can even think to stop it.

This isn’t just one of those everyday kisses… It’s a claim.

I should push him away and demand he leave, but I can’t.

I resist for about five seconds, and then I wrap my arms around his neck, moaning into his mouth.

My nipples stiffen beneath the soft fabric of my cotton shirt.

And just when I’m settling in for the ride, Demon breaks the kiss, leaving me panting.

He smirks. “You’re mine.”