Page 30 of Injustice and Absolution

“Delilah.” Drew’s voice startles me, pulling me from my thoughts. He’s separated himself from the group of people he was with a moment ago and is walking toward us. “You made it.”

I clear my throat so I can speak without sounding like a fool.

“Hey. Thanks again for the invite. This is my friend, Maggie.”

He nods in Maggie’s direction without taking his eyes off mine. It’s not lost on me that he gave me his full attention and shook my hand when we first met.

He stopped his conversation with Sienna just to find out who I was. I thought he was being polite, but when he doesn’t give Maggie the same warm greeting and sense of interest, I realize why.

He’s not as interested in Sienna as I originally thought. I curl my hair behind my ears like I do when I’m uncomfortable as his gaze continues to linger. Finally, I look away when I’m unable to take the intensity in his eyes any longer.

And meet a seething stare from Sienna, standing several yards behind Drew. I swallow, attempting to calm my nerves, but it’s no use. It seems dramatic, but Sienna, apparently, drew a line in the sand, and she believes I just crossed it.

I should probably start looking for a new job now.

“Well, the keg is full, the music is decent, and the company is … mixed. All the makings of a good time. Can I get you—”

“Oh, there’s Mickey and Jennah,” Maggie interrupts Drew. “I didn’t know they were going to be here.”

Bless your horrible, abrupt timing, Maggie.

“We’re okay for right now,” I answer Drew’s unfinished question. “Thank you, though. I’ll see you around.”

Maggie takes off toward her cousin, and I follow behind, grateful to have a reason to end my conversation with Drew. I need to stay far away from him tonight and every other night after this. Not only so I can try to maintain a civil work environment for myself but because of the way he looks at me.

His eyes aren’t full of lust, like I’ve seen in Royce’s before.

They're not littered with impure and violent notions, like I frequently saw in my father’s gaze.

He looks at me like I’m the most beautiful person he’s ever seen.

And that downright terrifies me.

CHAPTER ELEVEN

ROYCE

Ican’t enjoy the open road the way I used to.

What once brought me clarity and peace has been tainted by the haunting, thickheaded actions I took with Delilah that night.

It’s been over a month, and I’m still consumed with unbridled lust and overwhelming guilt.

She makes me weak.

The moment she leaned into me, begging me to take her, I lost the feeble control I’ve had over my demon for the past year.

He lashed out, greedy to touch and taste every part of her he could get his hands on, silencing my screaming conscience who was fighting desperately to tell me how wrong it was.

Knowing I would ruin her.

Knowing if my demon slipped out, it might be the only chance he had to get what he’s been after for so long.

There’s a part of me that knew exactly what I was doing and didn’t care. There was another part of me that wanted to turn around, fuck her all over again, and tell her I was never going to let her go.

But what kind of life would she have with me? I can’t give any woman the emotional support she needs and deserves, let alone one with the history that Delilah has endured. I can’t drag her into the life I’ve created for myself.

Look at what I’m doing right now.

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