Slaughter Daughter by Eve Langlais
29
Oh,shit. Jag was going to punch Braedon. It was hot. Wrong.
Still fucking hot.
I scrambled out of the car. “Don’t hit him!”
Jag’s fist stilled, and Braedon smirked as he stood unafraid. “Go ahead and hit me. I’m sure the video evidence from the plaza security will be enough, with my complaint, to put your ass in jail where it belongs.”
“What are you doing with Abby?” Jag growled. Alpha male pissing to mark his territory.
Again, way sexier than it should be. I’d never had a guy jealous over me before.
“What does it look like I was doing?” Braedon deliberately taunted, and my shame burned bright then flipped to guilt as Jag shot me a glance that held anger and pain.
“Let go of Braedon.”
“Why are you with him?” Jag replied instead.
“I called him for a ride.”
“If you needed a lift, you should have asked me.” Shoving Braedon away from him, Jag whirled to face me fully.
I shrugged. “Didn’t figure you’d take me to the bus station, what with you stuffing your face to mourn the loss of your friend.” It wasn’t a fair accusation.
Jag snarled. “What else am I supposed to do? Run away? How’s that working for you so far?”
It hit me like a slap. My lips pursed. Braedon’s smirk reminded me of what he’d said. “Are you enrolled with the college?”
“What?”
“You heard me. Are you and the others actually students?”
Jag opened and closed his mouth.
Answer enough. “Unbelievable,” I muttered. “What was I? Some kind of sick game for you and your friends?”
“It’s not like that.”
“Not like what? You lied to me,” I yelled. “All of you.”
“I can explain.”
“No.” I waved a hand. “I don’t care. I’m done with you. Him. This town. Everything.”
I began to walk and was flanked by both guys, arguing at me and over me.
“Come on, buttercup, you can’t leave.”
“Abby can do whatever she likes,” Braedon countered. “You heard her. Leave her alone.”
“If you don’t shut your mouth, I’m going to ruin the thousands your parents spent on orthodontics,” Jag yelled, losing his cool.
I really believed he would. Which was why I turned to Braedon and said, “It’s time you left.”
At my firm expression, he sagged, only to add, “Are you sending him away, too?”
“I will, after Jag and I have a chat.”
“About?”
I thinned my lips. “None of your fucking business.”
Braedon didn’t look happy, and his stride was stiff as he stalked off. I felt shitty. He’d not done anything bad to me. My anger was mostly over my stupidity. I’d known I should stay away from Jag. Instead, I’d slept with him.
The moment we were alone, Jag just had to double-down. “What a prick.”
“Is he? He’s not the one lying to me.”
“Don’t kid yourself. He’s just trying to get in your pants.”
He deserved the slap I delivered. Jag’s head barely turned, and he worked his jaw as he drawled, “Feel better?”
“No! Why did you and the others lie about being students? Was it to spy on me?”
“Yes.”
He didn’t deny it, and I blinked. “Why? Worried I’m a killer like my parents?”
“Nope.”
“Then why, dammit?” I was getting so tired of the non-answers.
“It’s complicated.”
I slapped him again and could admit to enjoying it a bit more than I should.
This time, he licked his lower lip and winked at me. “Maybe there is more of a killer inside you than expected.”
I should have been appalled at my violence. Instead, I lifted my chin. “Going to hit me back?”
He chuckled. “The only hitting I’m doing with you will be the kind we did in bed. Where you claw my back and demand more.”
From pissed to blushing. The desire to climb him like a tree hit. And he saw it. Damn him.
He reached for me, and I almost gave in to it. Almost melted into his lying arms just so I could taste those false lips.
I shook my head and stepped away. “No. I’m not falling for that again.”
“Buttercup.” He purred my name.
“You lied to me. All of you.”
“We had our reasons. Tell you what, come back to the house with me, and we’ll tell you everything.”
“Bullshit. You’re just saying that so I’ll go with you. Tell me here. Now.”
“I can’t. It’s—”
“Don’t say complicated. According to Braedon, you want to kill me because you’re demons.”
“Do I look like a demon?” He reached for me, and I didn’t move in time. He dragged me close, and I didn’t fight despite my reluctance. He still felt good. “Does this feel demonic to you?” His mouth pressed to mine, his lips demanding, hard.
I melted. I was weak. Hungry. Needy.
He fed me his passion, and I craved more. His hands on my ass, grinding me into him, weren’t enough. I remembered how he’d felt inside me.
He whispered into my mouth, “Come home with me, and I’ll show you how much I want you.”
Maybe I should. He’d come after me. He did seem to care.
Wait. I pushed away from him. “How did you find me?”
“I followed you.”
I arched a brow. “And while on your motorcycle, you couldn’t catch up to me the four blocks I walked to the corner store?”
“I followed you a different way once I realized you were gone.”
My eyes widened. “Did you plant a tracker on me?”
“We kind of had to, given the shit that’s been happening.”
“Had to? Fuck off. I never gave you permission.”
“It’s for your own safety, buttercup.”
“No, it’s part of the game you’re playing. You and your friends. Except, I’m out. Done with this bullshit.” I threw up my hands before walking away.
