Page 4 of Tainted Truth

My stomach rolls. “Where did you find that?”

“Where do you think?”

I feel the color rise in my cheeks as I think of the things he probably found in my bag. “You had no right to go through my things.”

Rio marches to the bed and leans over me, his face inches from mine. “I had every right. I told you to run to me, and you did.”

“I was just checking?—”

“You were going to leave, but you came here instead. I also found this little toy.” He pulls out my waterproof green Rabbit vibrator.

A trapdoor opens in my belly, and my free hand darts out to grab the vibrator, but Rio moves it just out of reach. “Ah ah ah. If you really want it that bad, I can help you out, seeing how you’re a bit tied up at the moment.” He winks.

Not a bad idea.

Hell no!

He turns it over in his hands. “Where did you get this anyway? It’s not very life-like. A little small.”

Small? That thing is seven inches long! How is that small?!

“Oh my God! Just give it back!” I move for the vibrator again, but he holds it far enough away so I can’t get it.

“No. I think I’ll keep this safe for a little while longer.” His lips are almost touching mine. If only he’d move a little closer.

Then an image flashes in my mind. The sight of Rio with a knife standing over two men tied to metal chairs.

I recoil from him, and a hard look crosses his face. “One day, you won’t look at me like that.”

“You hurt them.”

“They were bad men and deserved what they got.”

“How can you say that?”

“Easily.” His voice is cold. “They’re the ones who shot up Abstract Dreams. They’re the ones who killed Lance.”

I gasp, and the color leaves my face. Does that mean they found Pierce too? Where Pierce is, Anthony is not far behind. Just the thought of Anthony in the same vicinity as Rio, Zane, and Asher is going to make me break out in hives.

But I can’t let Rio know anything is amiss . . .

I huff out a breath and attempt to cross my arms. A bit difficult when I have only one arm that can complete the motion.

“My friends are going to wonder where I am.”

Rio shrugs. “I texted them and told them you’re off finding inspiration for your exhibit.”

I narrow my eyes at him. “I think I made it pretty clear that the exhibit is the last thing on my mind when I bought the damn bus ticket.” I sit a little taller. “Besides, you don’t have anyone’s number.”

“That’s what you think,” he scoffs. I raise an eyebrow in lieu of a verbal reply. “Okay, so I only have Hayes’s digits, but I’ll have everyone else’s soon. They love me.”

I don’t like that he’s right; all of my friends practically eat out of the palm of his hand.

“But that’s a nonissue because I didn’t use my phone. I used yours.”

“What!?” My eyes blink incredulously.

“You really should change your password on that thing. Zero-six-one-one? The day we met? Really?”

---