Page 18 of G.O.D.S Omnibus

I shrug. I wouldn’t say I’m petrified, but they can stick to their side of the glass tanks and everything will be good.

“Not as long as they stay at a distance.” I look around his room, quickly skimming the three snake tanks. The walls are black—everything is so dark besides the heat lights.

Squeaking catches my attention. Laughn has a huge pair of pointy tweezers and is holding a rat—a big dead rat.

“Did you just kill that thing? What is wrong with you?!”

“Snakes have to eat. What do you suggest I feed them?”

I shrug, moving to take a closer look in the tank holding the rats. One is grey, and the other is brown and white.

Laughn holds the tongs out, and a huge-ass snake strikes the rat before he throws it in the cage. The door slides shut, and he grabs another rat. My eyes close as a squeak and pop hit my ears. I need a plan, and I need to execute it at the right time.

The little grey rat looks me in the eye, and I can feel its fear. I know snakes have to eat, but this guy is so damn cute. I quickly hatch a plan to break the rat out.

Laughn is trying to convince the second snake to eat. I look at the rat in the tank and then towards the door. All I need to make it out is a distraction. I try to think of something that could work when fate or destiny, whatever people believe in, lands right in my lap. The snake Laughn is trying to feed strikes at him, and he curses, preoccupied with wrangling the temperamental serpent.

I creep closer to the rat cage and waste no time in executing my very dodgy plan of grab and run, snatching the grey rat as Laughn cajoles the snake to eat, no longer paying attention to me. Backing away slowly, I reach the door, then spin and bolt down the hall, taking the stairs three at a time. I’m out the front door, sprinting down the driveway—in my black sheer bra and pleated school skirt—until I get to Brennan’s car, and I don’t look back until I’m reversing out of the parking spot.

My final vision is Laughn standing on his front porch, scratching his head.

I don’t stop until I get back to Boston’s house and am locked safely in my room.

The young rat runs around my bed, exploring its new surroundings. Laughn texts me a few times, but I ignore him.

Laughn

Baby, why did you steal the snake food?

You did look hot AF making your getaway.

Boston isn’t happy.

He will be there soon.

“What shall we call you? What about Rathew?” His little squeak seals the deal. Rathew it is.

At least I was pre-warned that Boston was on his way home. I had time to snoop around and find something to keep Rathew in until I could get to a pet shop. I find a large plastic container with a lid in the garage, and a drill to make air holes.

The loud roar of an engine cuts off outside the garage, then a door slams and footsteps thump up the stairs.

“Jolie, I’ll find you!” Boston roars.

“Do you think he will find us in here?” I whisper, placing Rathew in his new cage.

The footsteps come back down the stairs as I push my ear against the door. Another door slams—he must have gone out to the backyard. I make my escape, creeping around the house. He will find me eventually, but I don’t plan to make it easy for him.

When the coast is clear, I sneak back up to my room, hiding my new pet in my closet. As I’m walking out, I come face to face with Boston, that damn vein in his neck pulsating.

“You’re infuriating,” he seethes, taking a prowling step towards me. “Now I’m sweaty from running around the house searching for you. What if something happened to you?” His glare penetrates my soul. It’s so weird to feel like his darkness speaks to mine.

Nine buttons.

Northwood Pines high school boys’ dress shirts have seven buttons down the front, then one on each wrist. Nine buttons are being released as he walks towards me with lust-filled eyes. He shucks off his shirt, his nipple piercing glinting in my peripheral vision as the fabric falls to the floor, but my eyes never leave his.

The distance between us closes and his nose presses against mine, his eyes sparkling, but they also hold all his secrets.

“Did he hurt you?” he whispers against my lips.

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