Page 17 of Tainted Truth

The fighting pauses as each man turns towards Elena. “This isn’t a bar brawl! Get yourselves together. God!Actúan como niños,” Elena chastises.You’re acting like children.

“But—” Rio stammers.

“Nuh uh.No quiero escucharlos”—I don’t want to hear it—“I don’t care what they did—suck it up for the next few hours. You’re stressing out Mom. You know her heart can’t handle another trip to the hospital.”

Elena’s reminder of Paloma’s heart attack makes everyone wince.

Paloma claps her hands together. “New rule: No fists at dinner. Next person to pull a gun or take a swing has to clean up dinner.”

Zane huffs and crosses his arms; Gabriel, Mateo, and Diego shrug in agreement. Not that they could battle it out against Paloma anyway.

Paloma takes charge again, ordering everyone to their seats. I tug Spencer back down into the chair next to me when she tries to step away and take a different seat.

Not happening, Princess.

She gave me her trust. I may not allow myself to touch her the way I’m desperate to, but I’ll keep her safe no matter what it takes.

She shoots a glare laced with confusion my way while my face remains empty. She can’t know she’s my every thought, my every desire. Because shecan’tbe those things to me.

This woman has the ability to ruin what we’ve built. Rachel almost did it once, but Spencer has the power to break us irrevocably.

CHAPTER 5

SPENCER

I’m ashamed to admit that the neanderthal display of physical prowess almost had me opening my legs in invitation. Seeing Rio take on three grown men by himself was reckless, and I shouldn’t encourage that kind of behavior, but then Zane jumped into the fray, and I couldn’t stop the pulsing need between my thighs.

Fucking Horny Spencer!

If we weren’t with Rio’s family, I would have offered myself up for the main course, regardless of the fact that I’m mad at them.

I have needs too.

The three men who crashed dinner terrify me, but with my men close, I know I’m safe. From what I’ve gathered, their names are Gabriel, Mateo, and Diego, they might have a thing with Carmen, and they’re unfazed when murdering men in basements.

Then the cold bucket of water that is Asher Dawson was thrown onto my hormones when he made me sit next to him. I wish I could say that I don’t long for him to call me “Princess” again in that husky tone of his. I shouldn’t yearn for his roughhands on my skin, and I hate myself for wanting a man who clearly doesn’t want me for more than just my body.

After about five minutes of eating with all this tension, I can’t handle being at the table anymore. My three men seem to be envisioning slowly killing the other three who joined our little fiesta, and the new three are bouncing between murderous stares, smug looks, and attempting to get Carmen’s attention.

I’m trying to ignore the reality that I saw all of these men in a basement, torturing and killing. Secretly, I’m hoping those two deserved it, but that doesn’t stop me from remembering thepopof the gun when they were shot in the head.

I’ve heard that sound before, and it still haunts me.

Quietly, and on shaking legs, I stand from my chair and motion to leave, but I’m stopped with a large hand on my arm.

Looking to the giant with an attitude, I snap, “I just need to go to the restroom.”

“I’ll come with you,” he insists.

Absolutely fucking not.

My face flames as I realize that all eyes are on us. Zane watches me closely, like he’s ready to grab my other arm, while Rio just smirks at our interaction. The attention from the men across the table is too keen for my liking and I attempt to swallow the lump forming in my throat.

Carmen interjects, “She’s a grown woman, Ash. You don’t need to watch her pee.”

“Wouldn’t be the first time,” he mumbles, and I shoot a withering glare in his direction.

Before he can argue further, Carmen stands with me. “I’ll show her. You can chill.”

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