Page 65 of The Devil's Vice

My chest constricts. I don’t want to be left in that room with nothing but my thoughts to keep me company. Not after I tasted the sliver of freedom this morning.

“Can I come with?” I ask, trying to keep my tone innocent. Kain freezes, taking me in with a furious expression.

“You want to try to escape.”

“No! That’s not it!” I cry, holding my hands up. “I just… don’t like being left here alone. It’s too… quiet.”

He cocks his head, taking me in with a guarded look. “You promise you won’t try to run away?”

“I promise,” I whisper, stepping into his chest. His arms fold around me, and I sigh, listening to the powerful thud of his heart. Truthfully, I don’t even know if I want to leave anymore. I was drowning before, going through the motions in hopes that I would eventually find some meaning in my life. Now that I’m here, in his arms, I’m starting to think this is what I was missing all along. Who I was missing.

A heavy sigh hisses from his lips. “Okay,” he says, sounding like he regrets it already. “You can come with me. But you will wear your collar, and you have to stick by my side.”

He turns me to face him, tipping my chin up to meet his gaze. “I mean it, Lillith. I need to be able to see you to make sure you’re safe. This is your first test, flower. There won’t be another, so don’t fuck it up.”

CHAPTER THIRTY-TWO

KAIN

This is a bad fucking idea.

Lillith’s collar clinks delicately as I lift her from the bike and place her on the curb. The raucous cheers from the clubhouse try to call my attention away, but I can’t take my eyes off the way her skin looks in the soft red glow of the Hellfyre sign.

I should have left her at home. The guys will get one look at her and…

My fist tightens at my side. I’ve already proven that I can’t control myself when it comes to her. There’s no telling how many heads will roll if someone tries to make a pass at her. Or, God forbid, something worse.

“Kain? Are we going in?”

I look from the building to her, wanting nothing more than to drag her back to the cabin where I can keep her safe. She doesn’t belong in a place like this. She’s too good, too perfect. Too everything.

“Kain?” My heart squeezes at the way her bottom lip trembles. It’s like she knows what I’m thinking. That I’m seconds away from hauling her back to the middle of nowhere. She thinks she wants to understand me and my life, but she doesn’t have a clue in hell what it all entails. Still… she looked so damn excited a minute ago.

“Let’s go,” I murmur, adjusting my mask before taking her by the hand. She trails a step behind me, unable to hide the smile tugging at the corners of her eyes. “Stay with me, okay? These assholes don’t know how to act around a beautiful woman.”

Her cheeks flush, and she tightens the thin cardigan over her chest. “I’ll be okay.”

I sigh. “It’s more for my comfort than yours, little flower. I like to have you where I can see you at all times. That way, I can always protect you.”

This time, she gives me a nod, sliding her hand under my jacket. My skin heats wherever her fingertips brush, reminding me of all the ways I could be fucking her. Should be fucking her. A low growl tumbles from my throat as I think back to the text Bear sent me. If it was anything else, I would have blown it off. But I won’t sit back and let Onyx destroy the club. Merging with the Serpents is a surefire way to make sure that happens.

“Come here.” I hook my fingers under the space in her collar and give her a little tug. Her pupils blow, and I have to remind myself how much the club means to me. It’s the only thing that stops me from taking her right here.

Tearing my gaze from her, I yank on the brass handle and usher her inside, keeping my chest pressed to her like an overprotective guard dog. Placing my palms on either side of her waist, I guide her up to the bar, sensing the eyes of one too many slobbering bikers trained on my precious flower.

“Jesus, took you long enough to get here.”

I wheel my glare onto my supposed best friend, hoping he understands just how much willpower it’s taking not to slam my fist into his busted face. “I’m here now. Where are they?”

“Where do you think?” Bear’s chest expands with a sigh, and he jerks his gaze in the direction of Onyx’s office. “They’ve been in there all evening. I only found out because one of the guys took a liking to Carlotta. They’ve taken some pretty fucking severe measures to make sure you’re not included.” He narrows his eyes at Lillith. “Who is she?”

Before I have the chance to speak, Lillith turns her kind green eyes on the giant. “My name’s Lillith. I’m… Kain’s.” She barely utters the last part, but it rings as loud as a jet engine in my head. Kain’s. Mine.

I watch his expression carefully as he takes in my little flower. It’s only for a moment, but it doesn’t escape me the way his eyes darken with desire. Bear’s gaze dips to the thick leather collar around her neck, and it looks like his heart stops. “Kain, what did you—”

“I’ll explain later,” I bark, shooting him a warning glance over Lillith’s shoulder. “I need to talk to Onyx.”

“You won’t get far with her by your side.” He crosses his arms over his chest, shooting a nervous look at the raven-haired beauty. “They have the Huxley twins guarding the door, and there’s no fucking way they’ll let a non-member inside. Not even for the great and mighty Kain.” He sucks his teeth. “You’re better off leaving her with me.”

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