Page 86 of The First Cut

“The prospect’s picked Millie up from school, and they’re on their way back.”

“I better get cleaned up.”

“Take a shower. I’ll put some ointment on the cuts after. They’re shallow, so they shouldn’t scar—but I’m not making any promises.”

I shrug. “The only person that’s ever going to see me naked is you. If you don’t like scars, don’t hurt me.”

“Oh, baby,” he says, voice low and hungry. “I love hurting you. I love the taste of your tears on my lips and your blood on my tongue. A little fear, a little pain, makes your blood taste that much sweeter. And I happen to love your scars, old and new. By the time we leave this world, there’ll be a road map of marks on your body that only I will know the history of.”

“Like a secret code. The story of us.”

“And when you’re ready, you can carve our story into my skin too.”

My womb clenches at the thought. Yeah, I guess we are two sides of the same fucked-up coin.

Chapter Twenty-Eight

Hannibal

Ifinish rinsing the soap from my body as the bathroom door slams open.

Reaching over, I turn off the water and yank the curtain back, taking in Lola’s pale face. “What’s wrong?”

She walks over and gives me my cell phone with shaky hands. I take it from her as she turns and flees to the bedroom.

Havoc’s name is on the screen, making me grind my teeth. “What the fuck did you say to my old lady?” I snarl.

“Nevaeh’s been kidnapped. We’re tracking her, but I could use some help, and you’re closer.”

“Fuck. I’m leaving now. Just tell me where to go.”

“G will text you directions.” He hangs up before I can say anything else. I toss my phone on the counter, grab a towel from the rail, and dry off. With no time to waste, I put on the dirty clothes I tossed in the corner before grabbing my phone and heading back into the bedroom.

Lola's standing next to the bed looking lost, but I don’t have time to reassure her right now.

“I’ve gotta go. Nevaeh’s been taken.” My phone chimes with directions as I jog down the stairs to the kitchen. I dial Ferris, who isn’t working today, and grab my cut from the back of the chair as I wait for him to pick up.

“Prez?”

“Where are you?” I bark into the phone.

“On my bike in the lot. I was heading out for some food.”

“I’ll meet you there.” I hang up, snag my keys, and head out to my bike. I take my gun from my cut, make sure it’s loaded and the safety’s on before I straddle my bike and shove my helmet on. I take off for the front lot where Ferris is waiting. I stop only long enough to tell him what’s going on and to order the prospect to open the gates.

Once we’re out on the road, I activate the Bluetooth and call G. “Hey, we’re on the road, heading in your direction.”

“Good. I’m gonna keep feeding you info so you know where to go, but I’ve gotta keep this line free. You’ve gotta know—Hannibal, Probe’s hurt.”

“How bad?”

“Bad.”

“Fuck. Keep me updated.” I hang up and gun the engine. Ferris follows behind me as we travel as fast as we can without risking getting pulled over.

We’ve been riding for about an hour when my phone chimes with a message. An automated voice reads out the message, which is another set of directions. We carry on like this for the next couple of hours until G’s final message lets me know they’re pulling up outside the property where Nevaeh's being held. I send a voice-to-text message saying how far out we are before dialing Ferris. I wait for the call to connect as I make a hard left.

“We’re almost there. I’m not sure what we’re walking into, but if anything happens to Nevaeh, be prepared to lock Havoc down.”