Misted (Team Zero #5) by Rina Kent

His golden blond hair is shorter at his nape now. His blue eyes seem serene and at peace. There’s no hollowness or anything.

I refused to believe Ghost when he said Crow is the only Zero who’s living the good life, but apparently, I was wrong.

“France?” I ask, incredulous. What the hell am I doing in France?

“South of France, to be more specific. Not bad, eh?” He motions around. “I could’ve found a better place, but Hawk didn’t give me much notice. Can you believe that little shit? He called me but didn’t even say ‘a hello, Crow. How you doing, mate?’ He just ordered me to find a house and then the line went fucking dead. ”

“Hawk?” I caress my arm, and like sin, he appears beside Crow.

If I thought Crow dwarfed the entrance, Hawk feels like he’ll break the wood. He’s wearing simple black trousers and a loose grey T-shirt that still fails to conceal his honed muscles. He half leans against the wall, hair dishevelled and begging for my fingers to run through the thick strands.

I clear my throat. “Why am I in France?”

“Because I said so.” His turquoise eyes are harsh, dominant, as if he’s challenging me to retort.

“Good seeing you well, Crow.” I storm past them. “But I’m going back.”

A merciless hand clutches my wrist and pulls me back. I have to plant both arms on his chest for balance.

“Did I say you can?” he growls close to my face.

Goddamn him and this controlling side of his. I want to drag my nails through his face while kissing him.

“Let me go or I’ll fight my way out of here,” I grit out.

Hawk’s lips pull in a sadistic smile. “You can do that, Hellion. But are you ready for what I’ll do in return?”

My breath hitches at the sinister promise in his husky words. I… I want to see what he’ll do. Will he make me feel alive like the other night in my room?

“I didn’t sign up for porn with a story, sooo…” Crow places a hand on my shoulder and another on Hawk’s, pushing us away from each other and barges between us. “Save the sexual tension for later.”

Hawk cuts him a harsh glare and I struggle to put on the indifference mask.

“Heard you got yourself involved with the police, redhead.” Crow continues, oblivious to the tension simmering beneath my skin. “So you need time off.”

Hawk’s gaze falls on my wrist and I realise I’ve been unknowingly caressing where he just held me.

I let go with a jerk and cross my arms. “I have duties at Le Salon.”

“Taken care of.” Hawk clips out. “Flame, Shadow, and Scar are in charge.”

“What about Jessica?” I ask with a frustrated breath. “That lieutenant said he’ll bring her for questioning and –”

“Molly said she’ll keep her somewhere safe.”

I release a breath. At least she won’t be harassed by Liam.

“Who did that business?” Crow motions at my wound. “Old grudge?”

“Poison.” I sigh. “One of his disciples is salty that I’m obstructing his release.”

I don’t blame her, though. She must be desperate about getting Poison out just like Ink’s Team and me.

Crow rolls his eyes. “Why do you even keep these fucking minions? Those of us who don’t live a grand bloody life, isn’t it, mate?”

Hawk isn’t even paying attention to Crow. His feral, unreadable eyes study me so intently as if he’s planning what to do with me. Or he probably has plans and is now thinking about how to execute them.

Unnerving is too little of a word to describe being under his scrutinising gaze.

After so many years of avoiding me, he’s looking at me as if he’s never spent a second away from me. As if we’re back to that time where I talked the entire time and he just watched me like I was the most interesting thing on earth.

Only now, there’s only hate. Lots of hate.

“Well then,” Crow claps his hands as if to get our attention. “My house isn’t far away from here, but none of you fuckers is welcome near my wife unless you play nice. And I mean soooo fucking nice that she might actually forget we’re all killers. There’ll be no talking about murder memories or Omega unless you want to be food for the Mediterranean fish.”

“Wait.” I clutch his arm and Hawk glares. “Where the hell do you think you’re going? Aren’t you staying here?”

“Don’t offend me, redhead. This whole house couldn’t be a room in my mansion.” He waggles his eyebrows. “Play fucking nice and I might let you visit.”

Hawk wraps a strong hand around my waist and pulls me back until I let go of Crow. His hard chest is flush against my back, and a surge of heat ignites under my skin like gentle fire.

“Fuck off, Crow,” he growls, and I feel the rumble straight to my core.

Crow flips him the finger while hopping down the stairs two at a time.

The door closes behind him in the distance.

Hawk pushes his hips into me from behind, his erection poking my heated, sensitive flesh.

“Now, where were we, Hellion?”





15





Mist





Your madness is my drug and I keep falling like an insane person in the asylum.