Page 31

Charlee

My fist is raised ready to bang on the door again when it flies open. I jump back and glare at my babysitter. Anger pulses through my veins like a poison, which is all directed at Carl. He may not have locked me in here, but he’s guilty by association.

His dark eyes take in my flushed state as he leans against the doorjamb with what appears to be a shirt in his hands. “You calmed down enough to come out?”

I put my hands on my hips and glare at him. “What do you think? He locked me in my room again, like I’m a damn child.”

He doesn’t even blink an eye at my attitude. “I’ll let you come downstairs if you promise to behave. That means no tryin’ to fight me and no sneakin’ out to steal my car.”

He runs his hand through his dreads as he waits for my answer.

“Sure.”

Adrenaline floods my system as I prepare to make a run for it. It takes everything I have to keep my voice calm and steady so he doesn’t catch on to my plan, but I must answer too fast because his dark eyes narrow at me.

“Take off your pants, Charlee.”

My body goes ramrod straight at his request. That’s not fucking happening. “Excuse me? I will do no such thing. Besides, my tank top is too short and there’s no way in hell I’m walking around you in just my underwear.”

“You don’t have nothin’ I haven’t seen before.”

He snickers.

My hands ball into fists and I’m seconds away from junk punching the asshole.

“Chill the fuck out, woman. I’m not gonna try anything. Asher would have my balls in a vise, and I happen to like them where they are, thank you very much. He also let me know what you did to Axel.”

Heat creeps into my cheeks when he brings that up. “Without pants, you can’t get very far now, can ya?”

Bastard is smart, but I’m smarter.

I don’t dignify his remark with an answer. Instead, I just stand there glaring back at him in a silent dare to make me.

A few seconds tick by and then he sighs. “Come on, Charlee. I’m doin’ my boy a solid here. Can you work with me a little bit? I really don’t want to have to tie your sweet ass up, but you fuck me on this, and I’ll have no other choice.”

“I won’t. You have my word that I’ll behave.”

He doesn’t appear to believe me in the slightest, which is smart because I never do what I’m told.

“Glad to hear it.”

He tosses the shirt he’s holding in my face and I catch it before it can smack me. “Put this on.”

“You going to turn around then?”

I give in because if I change at least he’ll think I’m cooperating. Like a damn t-shirt can stop me from doing what I want.

“So you can knock me on the back of the head? I don’t think so.”

He presses his weight harder against the wall and crosses his arms over his chest.

I fight back the retort that’s brewing on the tip of my tongue and turn my back to him.

Asshole!

I change as best I can without showing him anything. Whiskey and tobacco float off the fabric and I know I’m wearing yet another one of Asher’s shirts. Even though I’m pissed at the asshole, I can’t deny I love the smell of him.

“Meet me in the livin’ room.”

He pushes off the wall and heads down the hall to the stairs. He gets about halfway and stops to call out, “Want a beer, Charlee?”

“No. I’ll take a shot of whiskey, though.”

Anything to make him take longer and give me a chance to sneak out.

“Sure thing.”

He nods, and I listen to his footsteps until they disappear into the distance.

Once I’m sure he’s far enough away, I creep down the stairs as quietly as I can until I reach the front door. My head whips around, scanning the room, but Carl’s still busy fixing our drinks in the kitchen. I hold my breath and twist the knob, hoping it doesn’t make a sound. Every second feels like an eternity as I struggle with the damn thing. A beat later it gives and the knowledge that I’m almost free is bittersweet. The minute the door opens, I make a move to run for it, but a deep voice scares the shit out of me.

“Don’t even think about it, Charlee. I’ll be on you before you can make it to the door and then you’ll spend the rest of the night mad I hog-tied your ass. Not to mention, you almost ended up as some coyote’s dinner last time.”

“Ugh!”

Foiled, I storm off into the living room and plop down on the couch without sparing him a glance.

Carl strolls into the living room with a beer in one hand and my shot in the other. He stops in front of me and holds it out like I didn’t just throw a temper tantrum. “Here. This should help you feel better.”

“Thanks.”

I toss back the whiskey in one go and let the warmth of it burn through me as I watch Carl sit in the recliner across from the couch and pick up the remote.

“Want to watch a little TV?”

When I don’t spare him an answer, he presses. “Charlee?”

“Fine.”

I drop the shot glass on the table and glare up at the flat screen. “Put on whatever you want then.”

A corner of his mouth lifts into a slight grin. “Asher’s so fucked.”

I open my mouth to snap back, but the opening credits on the TV stop me. “Lucifer?”

My eyebrows quirk up as I shoot him a look. Never thought that he would pick that, but it’s one of my favorite shows, so he’ll get no complaints from me.

“The devil you know and all that, right?”

He shrugs and takes a swig of his beer.

“Right, and I’m sure Chloe Decker isn’t hard to look at.”

There’s no controlling my eye roll.

“She’s a hot piece, but it’s Linda who really does it for me.”

“The doctor?”

I wasn’t expecting that answer. I guess Carl is full of surprises tonight.

“She’s hot and smart. That’s a fantasy come to life right there.”

He points the tip of the amber bottle in my direction as his dark eyes glisten. “Judging by your face that’s not who you were expecting me to say. You telling me you’re not a fan of hers?”

“She’s okay, I guess.”

“Let me guess. You got a hard-on for Lucifer?”

“He’s hot, but I’m more of a Mazikeen fan.”

I sink deeper into the couch and sigh. It’s obvious I’m not going anywhere, so I might as well get comfortable, and I won’t admit it to Carl but wearing this t-shirt was a good call.

“Figures you’d pick the badass brunette.”

He never takes his eyes off of me as he props his feet up on the coffee table and lounges back against the leather.

I shake my head and laugh. At least if I’m going to be stuck here, I’m in good company. While the opening credits play, I take the opportunity to really study him. He’s definitely good looking. His white shirt is a compliment to his dark skin. Much like Asher, his muscular arms are covered in tattoos. There’s one of a snake that winds up his neck and disappears just under his jawline. There’s a rough edge to him that’s all too familiar.

“Asher met you in prison, didn’t he?”

My fingers toy with the hem of my shirt.

The muscles of his throat bob as he takes his time swallowing another sip of his beer, no doubt to stall answering my question. “He did.”

“Interesting.”

My teeth dig into my bottom lip to keep from pressing him for more information. It’s not my place to ask.

“I can see the wheels spinnin’ in that pretty head of yours. I’m not gonna spew a bunch of bullshit to you and proclaim my innocence. I was guilty as fuck for what I did, and I’d do it again.”

“What were you in for?”

“Which time?”

He snorts.

“Umm.”

“Relax, Charlee. I’m messin’ with you.”

He chuckles. “I guess you could say I was a product of my environment. Started with stupid shit like boostin’ cars and worked my way up from there.”

“You ever kill anyone?”

I don’t know what’s wrong with me. It’s like I have diarrhea of the mouth and I can’t stop talking.

“Have you?”

He turns my question back around on me.

“Sorry. Stupid question.”

“It’s fine. Let’s just say I was young and stupid, and leave it at that.”

“Fair enough.”

Our conversation dies as I nod and glance back up to the TV. I cheer every time Maze kicks some punk’s ass and Carl just laughs at me. We lose track of time as we’re sucked into episode after episode.

While we’re watching the last episode of season one, the front door bursts open and in strolls Asher. He doesn’t even spare us a glance as he rushes up the stairs into his room. Carl calls out to him a couple of times, but it’s like he’s lost in a trance and never answers.

“He’ll be all right. He just needs a minute to get his head on straight.”

Zane walks into the living room and leans against the nearby wall.

Axel comes in behind him, and when his blue eyes glance up at the TV, he grins. “This show is awesome. Linda is the shit.”

Carl gives me a knowing look before he stands up and makes his way to the door. “Well, since y’all are back in one piece, I’m gonna head back home.”

“I’ll walk you out.”

Zane follows him outside with Axel trailing behind them. I get the feeling they want to talk in private, which is fine. I have a bone to pick with the one upstairs because he has another thing coming if he thinks I’m not going to be giving him any shit after what he pulled tonight. All anger disappears when I get to his room, though.

Asher’s covered in blood. He looks like a nightmare come to life, one I should be running away from, but sometimes a little danger is good for the soul.