Page 115 of Wicked Trials (Boys of Briar Hall 2)

His trusting, bleeding heart eyes.

How in the world could I ever betray him?

How could I ever betraythem?

Was it worth my freedom?

Did I even want to be free anymore?

Rook lifted a hand to trace the line of my cheekbone, pushing my hair back behind my ear in a move so gentle it sent shivers all the way to my toes.

“What is it?”

I schooled my face, blinking away what was definitely not fucking tears.

“I don’t deserve this.”

Amusement crossed his eyes, making them slant playfully as he leaned in to whisper against my lips. “You belong to us, Ghost. And we belong to you.”

The knock cameat the door only a few hours after dawn. The distinct three rap cadence of it giving away who was on the other side, making my irritability skyrocket.

I set down the whisk and wiped flour coated fingers on my jeans. The sky might’ve been falling down around us, but I’d never skipped a birthday. Rook would have his cake, and he would fucking enjoy it. Ava Jade would enjoy it, too. She deserved it after that bullshit last night.

The door banged noisily into the wall when I ripped it open, finding Diesel standing a few feet away, peering up toward the octagonal window to the loft above the garage. Heat bloomed over the back of my neck, but I reined it in. I had no doubts that he knew she was staying here, but I didn’t like the look on his face.

“What are you doing here?” I asked, unable to keep all the accusation out of my tone.

Diesel lowered his gaze to mine, hurt pinching at the bridge of his nose.

“I came to return the girl’s things to her,” he replied, handing me two clean blades and her cell phone.

“Where’s the other one?” I asked, knowing she was missing all three of her blades. She was going to be pissed if another one was gone for good.

Diesel shrugged, indicating the blade in my left hand. “I pulled that one out of Galen’s eye.”

So it was Galen who shot her.

“And that one out of Dimitri’s stomach.”

“She said you didn’t give her any ground rules,” I reminded him, my teeth on edge.

“A mistake I won’t make a second time. I underestimated her.”

A flutter of pride had me lifting my chin. I’d underestimated her once or twice, myself. I wouldn’t make that mistake again, either.

Diesel’s gaze tracked back to the window above the garage and my jaw tightened. “She’s sleeping,” I told him. “And I won’t wake her.”

He lifted a hand to wave me off. “I didn’t come to speak to her. I came to speak to you.”

“About?”

He jerked his head toward the drive behind him, where his car was parked up next to the Rover. I set Ava Jade’s things down inside and followed Diesel out, words I wanted to sling at him battering at the closed barrier of my lips.

When we were clear of the Nest, he stopped, leaning against the back of the Rover, and before he could speak, some of what I wanted to say came rushing out.

“What was that bullshit last night?”

Surprise lit up his eyes, followed by the lowering of his brows.

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