I restlessly tap my foot, feeling way too vulnerable. “Why? You didn’t do anything.” Other than make me have two orgasms. But they felt good, so I really can’t be upset with him about that.
“I know.” He traces his finger back and forth below my eye. “But I’m best friends with the asshole who hurt you. Or, well, I used to be.”
“Used to be?”
He shrugs. “Blaine and I have kind of grown apart over the last couple of years, ever since…” He trails off.
“Ever since what?” I press, noting his squirminess.
He smashes his lips together. “I’m not sure if I can tell you yet.”
“West,” I warn. “You told me you’d tell me the truth, so fess up, dude.”
His lips part to say God knows what, but Ellis jogs into the room.
“West, you need to come back here. Now,” he says, a little out of breath. His gaze flicks to me before landing back on West. “And you might want to leave her out here.”
West rises to his feet, pulling me up with him. “What’s going on?”
Ellis casts another quick glance at me before telling West, “The guy started talking and he’s saying some stuff that’s really bad if it’s true.” He gives an insinuating glance in my direction.
“No way,” I interrupt their little conversation that I’m fairly certain is about me. “If this guy is saying something about me, I want to hear.”
“Alexis,” West starts. “I don’t think—”
“Nope,” I cut him off. “You’re not going to talk me out of this. And if you know me at all, you’d realize that.”
West stares me down intimidatingly with his arms crossed. “I know you’re stubborn. I don’t need to be reminded of that. But I don’t want you going anywhere near this guy.”
I put my free hand on my hip. “Well, it’s a good thing you’re not the boss of me, huh?”
He grins haughtily. “Actually, I kind of am.”
I throw him a sassy smirk, but my confidence is faltering. “Oh yeah, how do you figure?”
“Because I’ve been assigned to take care of you and keep an eye on you.” His lips spread to a smirk. “Which means I’m the boss of you.”
“If that’s the case, then doesn’t that mean that your friend over there is the boss of me too?” I point a finger at Ellis. “And that Steel guy too.”
West eyes narrow to slits. “No. No one is the boss of you except me.”
“Doesn’t sound like it to me.” I don’t even know why I’m arguing about this. I don’t want anyone to be the boss of me. But, like I’ve said before, West and I are known for our little bantering arguments.
West stares me down hard, silently daring me to back down.
I carry his gaze firmly. Nope. Not going to happen.
Ellis’s gaze bounces back and forth between West and I. “I don’t think she’s going to back down, man. Maybe we should just let her come back. We’re going to have to tell her what he said, anyway.”
West tears his gaze off of me and looks at Ellis. “Why?”
Ellis chews on his bottom lip uneasily. “Because it’s bad and she’s going to find out, even if we don’t tell her.”
West blows out a breath. “He’s chained up, right?”
Ellis nods. “Of course.”
I blink stupidly. “You have someone chained up?”
West gives me a sidelong glance. “After everything that I just told you, are you really that surprised?”
I wipe my damp palm on the side of my leg. “Okay, you might have a point.”
“Not might. Do.” He tucks a strand of my hair behind my ear and my eyelashes flutter. A soft, knowing smile graces his lips, and then he turns toward Ellis. “Just so we’re prepared, on a scale of one to ten, just how bad is this?”
Ellis’s Adam’s apple bobs up and down as he swallows hard, his gaze straying to me. “An eleven.”
My heart misses a beat in my chest. Or maybe my heart stops altogether.
I’m not really sure.
I’m not really sure about anything anymore.
Holding hands
Alexis
As Ellis, West, and I head down the hallway, West decides to officially introduce me to Ellis.
“Oh yeah, Alexis, this is Ellis,” West says as we reach a shut door at the end of the hallway.
“It’s nice to officially meet you,” he says, offering me his hand.
The formal scene feels a bit odd after everything that’s happened, but I shake his hand anyway.
“It’s nice to meet you.” I look back and forth between the two of them. “How long have you two known each other?”
Ellis and West glance at each other with looks of contemplation on their faces.
“Probably about three or four years,” Ellis says, looking back at me.
I gape at West. “How did I never meet him before? I’ve known you for like a decade.”
“I had to keep this part of my life a secret.” He’s still clutching onto my hand and so is Ellis and it seems a bit strange.
But I don’t know how to pull away without seeming like a straight up bitch, so I let them both hold my hands and for some stupid reason, I find a bit of comfort from their touches.
“The only reason you get to find out now is because you’re part of the organization now,” West adds. “Or well, you’re being protected by them.”
“But why are they protecting me?” I ask. “I’m nobody to them.”
“You’re not nobody to me,” he stresses. “And the organization protects people. In fact, it’s their—our—number one mission.”
“You sound like a bunch of people with a superhero complex,” I say, only half joking.
West trades an amused look with Ellis.
“What do you think, Ellis?” he asks. “Do we secretly want to be superheroes and this is as close as we can get?”
Ellis deliberates with a twinkle in his eyes. “I always did kind of think it’d be cool to wear a costume and go around saving the city.”
“Do you guys wear costumes?” I tease. “Like tight, spandex ones? I bet you do and I bet you like it.”
They both stare at me, unimpressed, and I fight back a smile.
No, I don’t really believe they do, but messing with their heads is kind of entertaining.
“Yeah, we do, actually.” West throws me a smirk. “Mine’s pink and glittery and Ellis’s is purple and blue and has lace.”
“Hey, how come mine doesn’t have glitter?” Ellis exaggeratedly gripes, on the verge of grinning. “I hate lace.”
“You’re just not a sparkly sort of guy.” West shrugs. “Sorry man.”
The two of them grin like dorks and even though I won’t admit it, it’s kind of adorable. And sort of strange. I mean, West has always had a funny sense of humor, but him and Blaine were never this joking toward each other. I think back to what West said, how Blaine and him haven’t been close for a while. I don’t know why I didn’t notice it before, but now I can sort of see it. But what caused the change? Was it because West got this job and had to start lying to Blaine?
Why does it even matter? Stop thinking about Blaine!
“Thanks for the weird mental picture, guys,” I joke. “It’s going to haunt my nightmares forever.”
“Yeah, right, it probably turns you on.” West winks at me.
I want to flip him the middle finger but then realize they’re still holding onto my hands, so I can’t.
Instead, I stick out my tongue.
West grins. “Well, if that’s the way you want to play…” He leans forward and licks my tongue.
“What the hell?” I squeal, jumping back.
My shoulder bumps into Ellis, and he steadies me with his free hand while chuckling.
“Yuck, West, just yuck,” I whine, but I’m pretty sure I might be lying. Because I kind of liked it. Does that make me sick and twisted?
I swear to God West knows where my thoughts lie because he gives me a knowing
look and then wets his lips with his tongue.
I almost stick out my tongue again, just to see if he’ll lick me again.
“Are you two always like this?” Ellis asks amusedly.
West and I stare each other down, but eventually I start to squirm. No, we’re not usually like this. Do we argue? All the time. But never has West licked my tongue and never in a million years would I have thought I’d like it. I’m blaming it on what happened in the car. That threw us off balance or something. Orgasms throw me off balance.
Yeah, that’s it. Damn orgasms.
Okay, maybe not damn orgasms. Because I like them. A lot.
Still, all orgasms aside, I need to get my balance again because I refuse to fall for anyone ever again. Especially Blaine’s best friend. Or ex-best friend anyway.
“Yeah, kind of,” West tells Ellis, his gaze remaining fused on me. “Alexis and I have always sort of had this thing going on between us.”
“A thing where you’re annoying and I try to tolerate you,” I quip with a sugary sweet grin.
He snorts a laugh. “Is that what you really think?”
I nod, totally lying because deep down, I know I’m as annoying as him. “Yep.”
He glowers at me, but it’s a playful move. “So, you never try to annoy me?”
“Nope, I’m completely innocent.” Yeah, I’m so not, but I’m not about to admit that to him.
West snorts a laugh. “You’re about as far from innocent as they come.”
I scowl at him, but I’m struggling not to laugh. “I am not.”
“Are to.”
“Are not.”
“To.”
“Not.”
“To, to.”
“What?”
He laughs, his eyes crinkling around the corners. “That was fun.”
I roll my eyes, but a smile threatens to turn upward at my lips. “Whatever, you weirdo.”
I can’t help but smile a little bit. I’m actually feeling decent and have almost forgotten the reason why I’m standing out in a hallway, holding two different guys hands. But then a stressed breath puffs from West’s lips and his whole demeanor tenses. And just like that, I’m reminded of why I’m here.
“Are you ready for this?” West asks me with a nervous edge in his tone.
“I have no idea,” I answer honestly. “Since I have no clue what’s going to happen.”
Pity fills Ellis’s eyes and my anxiety skyrockets.
“Everything will be fine.” West gives my hand a squeeze and offers me a small, tense smile.
When I glance at Ellis, he gives me an uneasy smile as well. And his eyes are crammed with worry. I may not know him, but since he knows what’s going on … Let’s just say his nervousness makes me fear what waits for me on the other side of the door.
Dungeons & chains
Alexis
I swear to God it takes West an eternity to twist the doorknob and open the door. In all actuality, it probably takes about two seconds. But I’m losing track of time, like everything is creeping in slow motion, like I’m blazed out of my mind or something. Perhaps the drugs injected into my system are causing it. Or perhaps my increasing body temperature is making me hallucinate. Or maybe I have a fever.
I open my mouth to ask West if the drug put in me has any side effects, but then he opens the door all the way and all words are lost.
I’m not sure what I expected, but definitely not some sort of dungeon looking room with padded, soundproof walls and chains bolted into the cement floor. Bars line the ceiling along with a single spotlight, the florescent lighting nearly blinding. And all of that is just the room part. I haven’t even got started on what the people in the room are doing.
Minus West, Ellis, and I, two other people occupy the room. One of them is a guy, with shoulder length brown hair, and he’s wearing black cargo pants and a matching hoodie. The metal cuffs of the chains are secured around his wrists, his nose is bleeding, and welts cover his face. He looks utterly miserable and beaten, on the verge of death. I wonder if he’s going to die. I wonder if I should be frightened.
Why am I not more frightened?
“Is that the guy who tranquilized me?” I whisper to no one in particular.
“Yeah, it is.” Ellis’s breath touches my ear as he responds.
I nearly jump out of my skin from his unexpected nearness. “That’s what I thought.” My gaze wanders to the other guy in the room, a guy I met only today, yet again, I feel like I’ve met him before.
Steel.
Holy hell, he looks even scarier than before. And, even though I hate admitting it, kind of hot.
Unlike the first time I saw him, he’s stripped off his shirt and is now only wearing jeans secured by a studded belt and thick combat boots. Sleeves of bright ink and intricate patterns tattoo his lean arms and chest and sweat drips down his rock solid abs.
Holy shit, Masie would be flippin’ swooning herself to death right now.
My heart instantly clutches at the thought of Masie.
Stop thinking about her! The girl you thought was your best friend never existed. You need to forget about her.
Yeah, easier thought than actually done since almost every one of my memories for the last four years consists of Masie and I.
I swallow a lump wedged in my throat, wishing I could wipe my brain clean of her. And Blaine.
West abruptly swipes his finger along the inside of my wrist, drawing my attention to him.
You okay? He mouths.
I nod, not only lying to him but also lying to myself. Because deep down, I’m not okay. I’m hurt. And confused. And worried.
West searches my eyes, a pucker forming at his brow, and I question if he can see the truth hidden inside me.
“Now, are you going to tell me or am I going to have to beat it out of you,” Steel growls out.
I rip my gaze off of West to look over at Steel.
He’s pacing in front of the chained up guy and each step he takes is calculated, like a predator stalking its prey.
The guy on the floor shuts his eyes and rests his head against the wall. “I already told you I don’t know anything else.”
“Wrong answer.” Steel lifts his booted foot and bashes the bottom of it against the guys face.
Blood squirts out of the guy’s already bloody nose as he makes a sickening gargling sound. Steel gives him no time to recover, his eyes darkening as he grabs a fistful of the guy’s hair and slams his clenched fist straight into his already swollen jaw.
My heart slams against my chest and my grip on West’s hand and Ellis’s constricts. This is crazy. Insane. I mean, sure I’ve gotten into fights, but never this bloody. I should probably run away. Leave this house and never come back, right? I imagine if my parents were here, my mom would tell me to do just that and my father wouldn’t have even wanted me near these guys—he was always a bit overprotective. But they’re not here and neither is the Alexis that existed while they were around. And this Alexis, the one who lost her parents, had her heart ripped out by her two best friends, and was tranquilized by the guy currently being beat up, wants some answers. So my feet remain planted to the floor even as Steel raises his fist, preparing to punch the guy again. I want to shut my eyes, but I don’t. I watch Steel as he bares his teeth, his fist rising and crashing into the man. It’s as if he’s gone completely mad. I wonder if he has. I wonder if he’s straight up crazy. Or I wonder if something much deeper is causing him to look so out of control.
Remember…
Remember…
I blink as strange images and a voice pierce my brain. Then I press the heel of my hand to my forehead, and just like that, the voice and images fade.
I think I’m going crazy.
I think Steel is going crazy.
He moves to strike again with untamed fury in his eyes.
West releases my hand. “That’s enough.” He strides forward and grabs hold of Steel’s arm.
Steel’s head whips in West??
?s direction and if looks could kill, West would be a dead man standing.
“Let go of me,” Steel grits out, a vein in his neck bulging.
West shakes his head, his fingers remaining wrapped around Steel’s bicep. “If you kill him, he’s not going to be any use to us.”
Steel’s jaw clenches. “Fine.” He jerks his arm away from West, straightens, and storms toward Ellis and I.
As he steps underneath the light, I notice the blood splattered across his chest—which I’m pretty sure isn’t his blood—and the elevated scars on his left side. Four scars to be exact; each almost the same length and run vertically along his ribs. I don’t know what would cause that kind of scarring but if I had to guess, I’d go with a bear attack. He must have been in so much pain when he got them, and even though the guy gets under my skin, I feel kind of bad for him.
Swallowing hard, I let my gaze reside on his face, only to find that his eyes are locked on me. Our gazes collide and he wears no emotion in his expression, his face a blank mask. But his silver eyes thunder with a storm. I want to look away. Need to look away. But I can’t seem to get my eyes to cooperate.
Look away, Alexis. Look away.
I blink, trying another tactic, but I remain frozen as he stops in front of me.
“Are you scared?” he asks in a low, almost hopeful tone.
He wants me to be afraid of him? Yeah, this guy is definitely a weirdo. Albeit a sexy weirdo.
“Of you? Or of the other guy?” I ask in the most casual tone I can muster.
He studies me with an indecipherable look. “You are afraid of me, aren’t you?”
“No. Although, I’m betting you hear that a lot.” I press my lips together as his intense gaze burrows into me.
“And what about the other guy?” He points over his shoulder at the chained up guy. “Are you afraid of him?”
“Why would I be? He’s chained up, and I’m surrounded by three very tough looking guys who I’m pretty sure were assigned to protect me.” I pat his arm. “Thanks, by the way.”
He gapes down at his arm where I patted him. When Ellis snorts out a laugh, his cold gaze shifts to him.