Page 19 of Merciless Angel

Zane ignored her, his focus on me. I stood there feeling awkward, wishing I knew how to handle these situations.

“I don’t want to hear it, Zane. Just leave me alone, okay?” Being with my friends gave me the courage to stand my ground. Or maybe that was the alcohol.

“Do you want me to break his arms?” Raina offered, her tone casual like she discussed the weather. “I can make sure he never fucks with you again, Clover.”

Zane’s face grew pinched with irritation. He knew better than to mess with Raina. She was the daughter of the city’s top mob boss. The heiress to the city. Along with the Gods, she would one day run the city’s crime world. It would be nothing for her to make him disappear.

Of course, she wasn’t the only one who could make Zane disappear without a trace.

I shook my head, giving Raina a pleading look. Having her get involved wouldn’t help. “No, please don’t. I’m sure Zane was just about to leave.”

Taking the hint, Zane whirled on a heel and stalked away. My shoulders slumped with relief. It didn’t last long.

Raina turned to me with a pointed look. “What’s going on with Daire? Why would Zane have seen you with him?”

While she and Lyra eyed me, I struggled to form an answer. “It was nothing. I was working outside and Zane was hassling me. Daire stopped to make sure I was okay. It made Zane jealous. That’s all.”

How could I tell my best friend that the guys who hurt her had decided that I belonged to them? I just couldn’t bring myself to do that.

Pretending not to notice Raina’s suspicious gaze, I said, “I have to pee. I’m going to find the bathroom. I’ll be back.”

I took off before she could stop me. Luckily, I reached the main floor bathroom right as a girl was exiting. There was no line so I snuck right in.

Closing and locking the door, I peed and washed my hands. Then I took a minute to breathe and compose myself. This was supposed to be a fun night out to unwind from the past week. It felt like my whole life had flipped upside down in a heartbeat.

I emerged from the bathroom to find a small line of people waiting. With an apologetic smile, I hurried down the hall back toward the living room. When Blaze stepped out in front of me, I plowed right into him.

My breath escaped me on a surprised grunt. He’d materialized out of nowhere. I quickly realized he’d been lurking in the adjacent hall that led to the garage. Waiting for me.

Blaze placed both hands on my arms to steady me. “Whoa, where are you off to in such a hurry?”

“Raina and Lyra are waiting for me.” I pulled free of him, taking a step back.

“They can keep waiting.” Grabbing me firmly by the waist, Blaze steered me into the small hall where he’d been lurking. He pressed me against the wall, blocking my escape with his body. “Why are you so nervous? You belong to us now. Better get used to it.”

“I’m not nervous,” I protested. “You caught me off guard. That’s all.”

Blaze smirked, knowing damn well that I lied. “Have you told Raina about us yet? Eventually, she’s going to find out.”

“I’ll tell her when the time is right.” My breath caught as Blaze ran a hand brazenly along my thigh. Should I push his hand away? Would he let me?

Frozen in place, I stared up into his amber eyes. They gleamed with wicked delight. His fingers caressed my skin, creeping higher. In a white t-shirt and jeans, his hair falling over his forehead, Blaze had a devil may care vibe that made my stomach flutter.

“I see that you’re wearing the bracelet. Good girl. Make sure you use it.” Inch by inch, Blaze’s hand drifted up beneath the hem of my skirt.

Heat followed his fingers, engulfing my whole body. I resisted the way he made me feel. Everything about it was wrong.

When his hand entirely disappeared beneath my skirt, I slapped my own hand over it. “I have to get back to my friends.”

Shadows passed behind Blaze’s eyes. “You will. When I’m ready to let you go.”

“Come on, Blaze. Not here. This isn’t a good—”

His free hand wrapped around my throat, cutting off my words and my air flow. Adrenaline rushed through me. I didn’t know what to expect from a guy like Blaze. I was about to find out.

“You’re not the one calling the shots, Rainbow. Did you already forget about our deal? Kill or keep, remember? Unless you’ve changed your mind.” He waited for me to stiffly shake my head before running his fingers over my panty clad core.

A soft whimper became trapped in my throat. He eased his grip enough to let me take a few breaths before squeezing tight again. As he rubbed me through my underwear, Blaze’s gaze locked on my face.

---