Khalid’s “OTW” thuds through the speakers. “There’s one little issue with your big dramatic exit, baby…” Nate murmur-slurs from behind me. Sayonara, bitches.” I throw up deuces and turn, bearing straight for the front door. Only took a few murders, some hot sex, and losing my best friend, daughter, the man I fucking love, but whatever. “I feel so much fucking better now that everything is deciphered. It’s been fun.”īrantley’s eyes shift to Nate desperately. “You need to get in contact with Madison.” Then I look at Brantley. “I don’t even know why I bothered.” He doesn’t let me move so I shove harder until I’m back on my feet. His hand drifts up my cardigan and then he yanks me down so I’m face-to-face with him. I end up on my knees in front of him as he looks up at me from sitting on the ground. Nate reaches out and grabs my hand, tugging me forward. “I don’t even care,” I answer with a level voice. “-Okay,” I hear Eli mutter from somewhere in the room. “You think I fucked Valentina when I stayed behind in Perdita…”

He props one knee up and rests his elbow on it, leaning his head back against the wall. I don’t want to admit that I want to know what happened when he and Bishop stayed behind, because that would show I care. My stomach flips at the way he’s looking at me. When Nate doesn’t answer me, I bring my eyes to his. The room falls silent, all that’s filling the space is the music from outside. “So Valentina staked her claim on you, since you’re owned now?” “Mmm!” I whine, swiping my mouth after I take a sip of alcohol. Though I knew she wouldn’t, I couldn’t risk killing you just in case you, or she, did.”

“What, me? Little old me? You didn’t want to bring her around because of me?”īrantley rolls his eyes. “Aye!” Nate laughs, his head tilting back. Well, since everyone knows about her, and Nate is owned, I have no problem bringing her around.” We don’t need to talk about her anymore, but I do want to meet her…”īrantley relaxes.

To witness the scariest man I have ever met, ever known, with such a dark past and soul, soften toward a girl who is the opposite of him, is some sort of witchcraft. It’s frightening while being beautiful at the same time. Yeah, I wouldn’t breathe near this girl without his permission. I study Brantley’s posture, how he positions himself in a defensive stance while we speak about her. “Her name is Saint?” I ask, tilting my head. “She looks so young and…pure.”īrantley’s eyes drift over my head as he loses focus.

Malum by amo jones