Page 68 of Make Me Bleed

I shake my head. “I just can’t get past something happening and her not having anywhere to go…”

“Abel.” Stella places a hand on my shoulder and squeezes. “She’s not going to get kicked out. We don’t do that.”

“But I know how the government works?—”

“Maybe you do. I don’t know, but I know how this works, and I’m telling you we would never just leave her, okay? Can you trust me on that?” Her blue eyes are soft and sincere as she tries to meet my gaze, and when I finally look at her, I nod my ascent. She gives me a small smile in return.

“Good. I don’t want you stressing about this…” And when she catches whatever look I must have on my face, she pales slightly. “Oh, God. You’ve been worrying about this the whole time, haven’t you?”

“Just since I found her again,” I admit with a wince.

“Abel… we’re here to take care of her.”

“I know. But that’s what I should be doing?—”

“And you are. The way family should. Let us worry about everything else. And if there ever ends up being a problem, I will let you know, I promise.”

I blow out a breath, which causes my hair to flick upward before it settles back across my forehead. “Okay,” I acquiesce with a small smile, feeling something settle deep in my bones. Maybe, just maybe, it’ll be okay.

Maybe I can let go, just a little.

With a deep breath, I give Stella a small smile before making my way back over to Mo.

“Ready for another round?”

“Mhm,” she mutters and hands me the deck to shuffle. I take it, smiling widely at her, feeling my heartstrings tug as I take in her braided hair and dark eyes as she concentrates on the deck, counting each card as I flick them out between us.

It’s always so easy with Mo.

“I was beginningto think you forgot about me,” Lars drawls on the other end of the line, and I force myself to grin.

“Never. Just been busy, baby.”

“Too busy for me?”

I barely resist the urge to roll my eyes—only because he’s staring at me through the screen.

Normally, I can get into the zone so effortlessly, but for some reason, I just can’t tonight. I keep thinking about Peris and his disgusted attitude toward me, and it’s fucking with my head.

“You’re not the only one who wants my attention,” I tell him, trying for a possessive streak, which seems to work when a growl resounds through the line.

“Oliver…”

“Yes, sir?” I ask, blinking owlishly up at him through the darkened screen.

“I want you now.” And his words, despite how sick I’m feeling, still send a shiver through me. “Show me how hard you are,” he demands, and I freeze.

Shit.

I’m still flaccid.

I shove my hand down my boxers and wrap my fingers around myself and start stroking hard and fast and dry, just how I like it—a little bit of pain.

“Let me see how hard you are. You know how that really gets me going.” I try to buy a little bit of time, and that seems to work because Lars hums and tilts the camera down, panning it to show him stroking his large shaft, thumb swiping over his damp cockhead and smearing precum around.

“Shit,” I groan as I focus on the wetness and let my mind wander for a moment, imagining it’s someone else’s…

Goosebumps flare along my skin, igniting a path that burns in its wake, and I relish in the sting for as long as it lasts. Blood fills my length, and I groan in relief, finally flipping the phone around for Lars to see.