Page 15 of Deadly Little Games

She’s fucked with my head, and I hate her for it. She’s the forbidden fruit, tempting me with memories of its sweet taste that I long to savor once more. I won’t. She’s a distraction, one I can’t afford.

“Fucking nightmare. You need to recruit more workers for the docks, but make sure they’re trustworthy. You’ll find the shit in the garage, start...” I spot her in the midst of the bustling crowd who are milling around the pool. She’s still here. Her eyes meet mine as the black lace mask hides her identity and her long brown hair cascades down her back. I want nothing more than to wrap that hair firmly around my fist and watch her swallow my cock.

“Start what?” Hazen asks, but I pretend like I didn’t hear him.

She’s scanning the area, checking out every guy to find her brother, no doubt. It’s why she’s here. Lucas steps in front of me, obstructing my view of her, and then turns his head to look in the same direction I am. He turns back around with a playful smirk on his lips. He whips out a bagfrom his pocket and does a line of coke on the bar behind us before turning back around.

“Oh, looks like the little thorn is lost and needs a helping hand. See ya,” he says, and with a determined stride, he sets off toward her. Fucking hell.

Lucas catches up to her and leans down, whispering something in her ear. I’m dying to know what he’s saying. I need to know. She says something back to him, then they stare at one another, exchanging words for far too long before she shoves her empty glass into his chest and walks off.

“Dude, focus. That’s the second time you’ve ditched this conversation and not even to get laid—for an eye fuck. Don’t tell me you’re still obsessed with her?” Hazen says, sparking up another joint.

“Shit, yeah, sorry. Can you get the shit from the garage, baggie it up, and start circulating?” I snatch a glass of champagne from a waiter and down it. It tastes like shit, but it’ll do.

Hazen pushes off the bar and disappears.

I spend the better half of the night watching her every move. No matter how hard I try to avoid her, her presence lingers like a shadow. It’s driving me fucking crazy. She shouldn’t be here, for starters. I should get her kicked out and drive her back over to her side of the tracks, but part of me wants her here... and it’s fucking with my head. Any other fucker from Daringhood would be dead already, but not Freya LeClair. With an air of self-assurance, she waltzed into the place, leaving everyone unaware of who she is. They think she’s one of us. How wrong they are.

Her attention is abruptly captured by something, causing her to gulp down the rest of her drink and swiftly retreat indoors. I follow after her, my footsteps barelyaudible like a predator stalking its prey. Everyone gets out of my way and it’s not long until I’ve caught up to her.

With each step, her high heels create a distinct clicking sound on the tiled floor, effortlessly drawing attention to her confident walk and the gentle sway of her hips. My dick hardens, and not for the first time tonight. She’s really starting to get on my nerves. She’s too much of a distraction for me to handle.

With a lunge forward, I extend my hand, firmly gripping her arm, and she reacts with a surprised gasp, swinging her fist in defense. Just in time, I manage to duck and narrowly avoid her hand, then I spring back up and pin her against a nearby wall. Her body tenses as she tries to break free, her piercing gaze locking onto mine.

“Let go of me now, or I swear to God I’ll...” Her nostrils flare and I smirk. She’s too easy to play with.

“You’ll what? I don’t think you’ve got it in you.”

She takes a deep breath, a gentle smile gracing her lips. She pushes her hips forward, getting so close that her berry scent overwhelms me. Fuck.

When her lips meet mine, I forget who she is and why I hate her.

Gage - Age Seven

The piercing screams carry through the walls of Hazen’s house, fueling the fire of anger within me. I storm toward Dominic’s office door, my clenched fists trembling with rage. Peering through the crack, my heart races in my chest. Dominic is leaning over Freya, her body trembling under his, and her eyes widen with terror as he abruptly withdraws his hand. A loud slap fills the air. I flinch as though he’s hit me. He pulls down her pants and the anger I felt before is nothing compared to now. This isn’t right.

She’s so small compared to him. She’s only six. I have tohelp her. Without thinking about the consequences, I push open the door and run straight up to Dominic. He has one hand down his pants and the other moving over her stomach. With a trembling fist, I lash out, connecting with his side, my voice escaping my throat in a shaky scream. “Don’t hurt her!”

He whirls around so fast I lose my balance and fall straight onto the hard floor. Her bright blue eyes bore into me as she lets out a chilling scream that sends shivers down my spine. Dominic’s fist hits the side of my face, my vision blurs and her screams are the final thing I hear before the ringing in my ears takes over, and everything goes black.

A loud bang of metal against metal clangs in my ears, bringing me back to consciousness in a dark room. No, please don’t let me be here. Anywhere but here. The walls gradually narrow, suffocating me as Dominic secures the bars with a resounding click, trapping me in this claustrophobic prison. Clutching onto the cold, unforgiving metal, I look up into his dark-brown eyes, pleading for forgiveness and praying he’ll let me out.

“I’m sorry, please don’t leave me here!”

I know it’s weak to beg for mercy, but I hate this place. The memory of my previous visit lingers in my mind, a consequence of my defiance toward Dominic that I have no desire to relive. I was locked in here for two days that time, without any food or water, only me and my thoughts. I don’t want to experience that again.

“This is what happens when you put a girl before The Brotherhood. You will be punished. No one comes before us. Your brothers are kings, and anyone who breaks our code isn’t one of us. Understood?” His menacing growl sends chills down my spine, and I struggle to suppress the knot of terror constricting my throat.

“Yes, I understand.”

I have to forget about Freya—she’s a distraction, and she’s the reason I’m now getting punished. Because I tried to protect her, to save her from him. I’ll never make that mistake again or I’ll pay the ultimate price.

Chapter Six

Freya

Thirty minutes earlier

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