Page 126 of Ruthless Desires: Vol. One
“We do, princess. Does that bother you?”
For an agonizing moment, she’s silent. Then, after her eyes have trailed from me to Elliot to Rhett, and then back again, she says, “What if the person doesn’t deserve it? To die?”
“Simple. We don’t take the job.”
It’s something we decided on years ago. Losing Sammy caused us so much unnecessary pain. What’s the point in avenging her if we become as bad as the man who killed her? So we’re picky about what jobs we take, and in the process, we take out some of the world’s worst pieces of shit.
Wren seems to relax at my answer. “Do you travel a lot?”
“A few times a month.”
“Have you ever gotten close to getting caught?”
I hesitate. By the police? No. But by other people? Once, years ago. But Elliot and Rhett don’t like talking about it. Probably for the same reason I can’t bear the thought of losing them.
“We’re always thorough, love,” Elliot says.
She nods. And then she settles into me further, one of her hands resting against my chest. “I think that’s all the questions I have. For now.”
Within twenty minutes, her breathing deepens. It’s a long drive home, and my guess is she slept terribly last night, so I keep my arm wrapped around her to hold her steady. It’s the least I can do after yesterday.
I can’t believe I lost it on her. Couldn’t even fucking drive. It felt like my heart was going to explode in my chest. Like I was going to die if I never saw Ell and Rhett again. And there was Wren, right after going through a bunch of traumatic shit, and she kept it together. She stayed calm when I couldn’t.
Am I proud of her? Immensely. But I can’t lie, I hate myself for falling apart at such a terrible time. Not only did she need me to stay in control, but I was a mess. A complete fucking mess.
Elliot and Rhett never would’ve started panicking like that.
Ever since we all realized we were attracted to Wren, I’ve had my doubts that it would work. For me, anyway. Rhett and Ell have their problems, but they’re manageable. But me? Sometimes I feel like I’m more of a burden than anything else.
I’m strong, sure. But not in the way Elliot and Rhett are. I’m smaller. Softer. Not nearly as dominant. Probably closer to a sheep than a wolf. And I’m not always…stable.
Elliot catches my gaze in the mirror. Knowing him, he’s already figured out exactly what’s going on in my head, so I look away. I don’t want to talk about it.
I know I’ll have to eventually—he’ll force it out of me. And if he doesn’t, Rhett will. But for now, they let it go.
At some point during the drive, it starts snowing, but I barely notice. I settle against my seat, still holding Wren, and let the comforting sounds of Elliot and Rhett having a quiet, low conversation wash over me.
Eventually, I fall asleep, the chant ofthey’re safe, they’re safe, they’re safe,the last thing I remember.
Chapter thirteen
Wren
“It’s time.”
I glance up from my book. It’s Friday evening, and after a nice dinner at the guys’ house, we all settled into the living room for a quiet night.
Well, all of us except Rhett. He’s been especially contemplative all day, and now he seems restless.
Elliot nods, his gaze fixed on Rhett. “You think so?”
“She needs to know. I’d say she’s proved herself, wouldn’t you?”
All of them look at me. Rhett from where he’s standing, Oliver from where he’s draped sideways in an armchair, and Elliot from his spot on the love seat next to me.
“Uhhh…” I squirm under their stares. “What?”
My phone buzzes in my pocket. After pulling it out and seeing it’s my mom calling meagain, I silence it. I texted her to let her know I’m safe, but I have no desire to talk to her after what she pulled on Tuesday night.
