Page 50 of Sin Like the Devil

“Ripley? What’s going on?”

She stops at the foot of the stairs, waving for us to pass. “It’s fine, Langley.”

“But—”

“Everything is under control.”

Some silent message passes between them. Who the fuck is this guy? I don’t like the way he’s looking at Ripley like she’s his to protect from us. I’ll gladly rip out his spine and shove it down his throat.

Grumbling, Langley backs off and returns to his post. He refuses to take his eyes off Ripley though, even as she passes us and resumes leading the way upstairs. Definitely some spine ripping needed to wipe that puppy dog look off his face.

“Friend of yours?” I snark coldly.

She tosses a glower over her shoulder. “I don’t have any of those.”

“How much did he pay you to fuck him, then?” Lennox laughs.

“Not everyone is desperate like you.”

“You little bi?—”

His next word cut off by the sound of Raine groaning, Lennox settles for a death glare instead. We fall into stony silence until we reach the sixth floor.

“Where is your room?” I ask curtly.

Ripley scoffs. “Like I’d tell you that. I’ll bring the goods to you.”

“What do you think we’re going to do? Break in and smother you in your sleep?” Lennox asks incredulously.

“I wouldn’t put it past you. And frankly, it wouldn’t be the first time you’ve eliminated the competition.”

“Fine,” I cut in. “Room forty-four.”

She rushes off to head back down the stairs. Lennox turns his displeased stare on me as I watch her go, that tight ass shaking with each step, begging for the privilege of my handprint.

“You need to get a fucking grip, Xan. She isn’t some little experiment for you to toy with and discard when you’re done. That woman wants our heads on stakes, and she has the means to do it.”

“I’m aware.”

“You’re aware? The fuck does that mean?”

Wrestling Raine towards his room, I huff out a breath. “Let me worry about Ripley.”

“Let you fuck her into submission, right?” he snorts. “If that’s what you call whatever you do with people.”

“By the time I’m done with her, she will no longer be a concern. Let’s leave it at that.”

“Jesus. Sometimes you’re legitimately insane.”

Lennox fishes the keycard from Raine’s jeans pocket then unlocks the door so we can escape inside. His room is neatly organised by necessity. Nothing is out of place or in disarray.

Raine has to know exactly where everything is, down to the precise steps it takes to reach furniture or doors. We deposit him on the bed then study our violently shaking friend.

This is the worst he’s been in a long time. Supply issues are inevitable, but we’ve never let him get this far into the withdrawal process before.

“Here.” Lennox returns from the bathroom with a wet washcloth. “Come on, Raine. Head up.”

Grumbling unintelligibly, Raine doesn’t even open his eyes. Lennox is forced to lift his chin for him to clean the sweat from his face. I watch on, lips pursed.

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