Page 28 of Buried in Blood
He arches a brow.
That look of his—the one that makes my skin tighten in all the wrong ways—settles into place.
“With what?” he asks, even though he knows.
He just wants me to say it.
“Brooke,” I breathe. “She’s missing. I need to find her. Before he gets back.”
He shifts on the couch, spreading his legs a little wider like this is just some casual conversation. Like the stakes aren’t my body on a fucking auction block.
“Missing?”
I nod.
He leans forward, resting his elbows on his knees.
“I thought she was your little project. Did you fuck it up?”
I flinch.
That earns me a smirk.
“She slipped out sometime yesterday,” I say quickly, heat crawling up my neck. “I’ve looked everywhere. But maybe you’ve seen something? Heard something?”
He doesn’t answer. Just studies me like I’m something under glass. Like he’s peeling back layers in his mind, wondering how close to the edge Ireally am.
“I’ll owe you,” I say before I can stop myself.
His gaze sharpens.
And now we’re in dangerous territory.
“Owe me?”
His voice dips, low and quiet.
He stands. Walks toward me with the same pace Damien uses when he’s deciding whether to kill or kiss. Only Reese… he’s more careful. More calculated.
He stops in front of me, his eyes locked on mine.
“I’m not in the habit of helping girls who belong to someone else.”
I hate the way my breath stutters.
“I don’t belong to anyone.”
That earns me a laugh.
A real one. Deep and mocking.
He leans in, lips close to my ear.
“But you will, if you don’t find her.”
The room feels smaller. My skin feels tighter.
He pulls back just enough to see my face, then lifts a single finger and traces a slow line down my arm.
