Page 62 of V for Vengeance

“But you haven’t, right, darling? You want me here, don’t you?”

His voice dropped out for a second as if he was worried I’d changed my mind after everything he’d shown me. It should’ve, but if anything, it proved that Cash had honored his promise to let me decide how he used it. He had every reason to torture her. He could’ve taken vengeance the way he’d always planned to, but he cut it short after I hesitated. Cash had honored every promise he’d made to me, so it was my turn to do the same.

“I believe you even though I doubt anyone else will. Phillip is going to kill me after all the shit you pulled last time, and especially after I promised it wouldn’t happen again. Let’s face it,I’m going to have a hell of a time trying to advocate for you when you can do this,” I said, gesturing to the decimation of one of the Seven and an entire cave of creatures.

They’d already be furious that he convinced me to go after her without them. They’d be suspicious of him even if I kept the details about his power to myself. But at some point, they’d know what he could do. I didn’t want to lie or keep things from them, but I also didn’t want to give them a reason to kick Cash out. Whether or not they trusted him, I did. We needed him. We couldn’t fight the Organization without him.

You’re being selfish.

Fuck, I was. My heart was getting in the way. I hadn’t realized how close we’d gotten, but the thought of my favorite Fae Karen no longer by my side made my throat tight and chest hurt. I’d miss him sending me hilarious rants about everyone in the group and his exaggerated theatrics after I played a prank on him. I was attached to the oversized man-child. I didn’t want him to get thrown out, and I definitely didn’t want to be the reason he ever felt abandoned.

This sucks.

“Phillip’s much too protective of you, V. You’re a woman capable of making decisions for yourself, so why do you give into that brute whenever he grumbles?”

“I know you’re not used to working with others, or, you know, relationships in general, but that’s sort of how they work, Cash.”

“Poppycock.”

Side-eyeing the asshole, I asked, “You know that I’m with them, so why did you…you know…?”

His eyebrow rose sarcastically. “Kiss you?”

“Yeah, that. Do you have some sort of death wish, or do you really not care what chaos you cause?”

Licking his lips, he dropped his gaze to my mouth like he wanted to do it again. “Well—”

“Nope. Stop. Don’t answer that,” I quickly retracted, afraid that I’d be drawn in again.

Those lips were a lethal poison to my common sense. I’d get stupid and do things like forget there were other people in the world. I needed to come up with a reason for why we should keep Cash, not get lost in another kiss with the gorgeous bastard.

How was I still being ruled by my libido after all this time? Why couldn’t I stay on task instead of being slowly distracted by all the ridiculously gorgeous people who wanted to kiss me? It was infuriating how little I’d learned since the first time I kissed Phillip.

I hated how much I acted like my age in these moments.

Cash seemed amused when I put my hand up and continued to walk the direction of camp, definitely not ready to hear his answer or all the bullshit that came with it. He followed quietly, and his silence bothered me more than his whining.

I expected him to force me to listen, but when he didn’t, it suddenly annoyed me that he hadn’t tried harder. Was it nothing then? Was he bored? Feeling horny? Did he do it just to stick it to the other three in the group? Or did he not want to be left out since I’d kissed everyone else, why not him?

Damn, who’s whining now…

Also, what was with this crazy plot twist? I now had some terrifyingly powerful Hand of Death ready to do whatever I asked him to do, no questions asked? How was this real life? What the fuck was happening right now? Was I being pranked?

“I do want to know one thing,” I finally whispered, and our eyes connected when I stopped walking like I wanted to stomp holes in the earth. “Why would you give me power over you after what that horrible witch did to you? Why would you—”

“This again, love? I thought I made it perfectly clear. Or should I kiss you again so you figure it out?” He retorted as if the statement itself wasn’t absolutely insane.

Kiss? Again?

Shaking my head, I walked on angrily. His nonchalance bothered me more than his nonstop complaints, but I couldn’t explain why. It made me feel silly for being worried about how blasé he was being when everything in my life had been upended—yet again—by a kiss. I thought I’d matured some over the last year, but I was back to that clueless girl I was in high school the second someone played with my feelings.

And it fucking sucked.

Suddenly, I was in the Dark Fae’s arms, inhaling his intoxicating scent. “I know what you’re thinking, darling, and you really shouldn’t. I’m not expecting you to do anything. If anyone should be doing anything, it’s me.”

I tried to pull away, but Cash chose today to prove his muscles weren’t just for show—or glitter. I’d break things if I tried harder to get free, so I grumbled angrily but stopped fighting the embrace.

“I’ll do whatever you say, my dove, but I won’t leave your side. That’s not something I’m willing to do no matter how pretty you look asking.” I glared up at him, and the asshole smiled like I’d done the cutest thing he’d ever seen. “Yes, love. Just like that. It won’t work on me. I’m staying. But I understand your hesitation, so I’ll show those barbarians that I’m yours to command. I’ll even…play nice if I must.”

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