Page 108 of G.O.D.S Omnibus

I expected him to say no, but it’s obvious my request intrigues him. “A forget-me-not above my collarbone.”

“Right here?” he asks, placing a kiss exactly where I want it. “You’re going to consume every single part of me, and I hope you’re ready for the consequences that come with that kind oflove. It’s unhealthy and toxic, but I have no control over it—I’m powerless.”

“I can’t forgive you,” I pant out as he continues to kiss up my jaw.

“I can live with that,” he whispers against my skin. “That anger will keep you from losing yourself because my kind of love will eat you alive unless you have a way to ground yourself.”

“So you’ll do it?”

He nods as he licks my lips and pulls away, flicking his knife closed and putting it in his pocket.

I stand there completely dumbfounded that he just licked me, but he smirks down at me. The lust disperses and I’m left thinking about his words.

“Let’s go. I have to do it today or not at all.”

“What about my training?”

“It’s my day. We can do it at Creed’s.”

“Why Creed’s? Don’t you live with your grandmother?”

“I did, but I moved in with Creed recently. It makes sense since we’ll all live together once you finish school and Creed is the only one of us that doesn’t live with his parents or guardian.”

I wasn’t told that information. “When was someone planning on telling me that?”

“We didn’t want to push you, but it’s required that teams live together. Creed’s house is big enough for everyone to live in. It might not look as lavish from the outside, but it has like fifteen bedrooms. We always intended on all living together anyway. Normal teams—once reaching stage five—no longer have handlers that follow their every move, but they instead check in with one specific handler. Once a team graduates, their handler may end up with a handful of other teams to check in with and sign off on jobs. We were always destined to be with you one way or another.”

“I’ve been told so much mixed information that I think we need to have a meeting.”

He nods. “I’ll talk to Brennan. Meet me at Creed’s and we can do your tattoo.”

“Okay.”

I make myself leave before I end up doing something I’ll regret. My body responded to him in a way that scares me. If I go down that rabbit hole, I may never be able to claw my way back.

My phone buzzes on my way out. It’s the group chat.

Danika

Where are we meeting tonight?

Me

At the party. I’ll send you all the address later.

I type out a quick message to Colt—he started texting me after the guys died—and I realise I should also make an effort to talk to Summer tonight, since I’ve been avoiding her, and she has respected that. Her guys glare at me every time I walk past, and I ignore them, but I can’t blame her for any of this.

Making my way through the parking lot, I jump into Boston’s Viper, the outside world flying by as I speed back to the house. The Myers are away on yet another business trip, so I let myself inside. During the drive home, I’ve made up my mind. If this whole bonding stuff needs to happen, we really should rip the band-aid off and move in together now. It’ll give me a chance to make them all believe that I want to work as a team, when really I have zero intentions of sticking around once we take out Mr Z.

Heading up to my room, I pack as much as I can in one suitcase, knowing I can get the rest later. Brennan can talk to his parents and let them know what my plans are. I’m sure they’ll be fine with it since they’re never here anyway. Their businessis important, and I wouldn’t want to hinder any of that by being needy and wanting them home all the time.

Once I have the essentials packed, I head back down the stairs, suitcase in tow. Petra is walking in the front door as I enter the foyer.

“Are you heading away on a trip?” she asks, looking at my suitcase.

“Moving, actually.”

“Oh no, is everything okay?” she asks, concerned.

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