Page 43 of Malice
I had to. For lots of reasons.
C:
I see. Does it have anything to do with that guy?
He meant Sin. And honestly, it did have something to do with Sin, and Grim, and Malice, and Chaos. But how did I tell him that without hurting him?
Me:
He’s not the only reason.
C:
I hope you’re happy, Merri. I really do.
Me:
Stay safe, Cole.
I hated that we were leaving this conversation just as tense and distant as our last one, but I wouldn’t lie to him outright. He didn’t deserve that, and neither did the four men I was with. Heaving a sigh, I placed my phone back on the bedside table. I had plenty on my agenda, and none of it could be taken care of by falling into a doom spiral.
Just as I finished pulling my hair into a ponytail and was about to head downstairs, my phone buzzed.
Heart in my throat, I grabbed it and stared down at the message from Cole.
C:
Find me if you need me. I’m still here for you, Merri.
C would like to share his location with you.
Chapter
Eleven
SIN
“You know, if the sky wasn’t still on fire, I’d say we were in one of those Gothic romances. Grim could reprise his role as Heathcliff,” I said as I dropped the heavy curtain and stepped away from the rain-splattered window panes. “You were the original inspiration for that broody bastard, weren’t you?” I cut a glance at said broody bastard, but he ignored me, instead turning the page of the ancient book he was reading.
It was storming again. Or, more accurately, still. The rain started yesterday and hadn’t let up since. If anything, it was only getting worse. The thunder was so close now, it wasn’t just the windows rattling, it was the whole damn house. I usually enjoyed a good thunderstorm, but not this time, and not when it continued for days.
“This storm is only going to get worse. The heat from above is giving it more power,” Chaos said, his brow furrowed in concern. “We might need to board up the windows before they shatter.”
“I’ll chat with Christian,” Malice murmured before taking a sip of his tea.
“Chat with Christian about what?” Merri asked, striding into the room like a goddess stepping down from Mount Olympus. Oh my God. What has she done to me? I’m a seducer, not a simp.
It wasn’t just me, though. It was all four of us. Grim’s eyes locked onto her as he set his book down, and he made a show of putting his leather gloves on. Chaos was a bit more subtle, but only just, as his position shifted so that he was always facing her as she wandered further into the room. And then there was Malice, who nearly missed the table when he placed his teacup too close to the edge because he was watching her every step.
We were so fucked.
A couple weeks ago, I would have tried to blame it on the waves of power rolling off her. Merri’s time with Grim had obviously gone well. She was so radiant this morning she all but glowed.
“I take it last night went well,” Malice said, his thoughts mirroring my own.
“Is that a note of jealousy I’m detecting?” Grim asked, though his attention was still wholly locked on Merri.
“It’s an entire book.” Was he talking to me? No. Did I still answer for myself? Yes.
