Give Me a Reason (Redemption Hills 1)

Because I’d never felt so vulnerable.

So prized.

So panicked.

I heaved a needy, lust-hazed breath when he dragged his fingers out.

The low laughter Trent released dripped sex, and he leaned down and kissed across my shoulder, muttering, “Oh, Little Temptress, we’re going to have so much fun.”

He pulled away and moved to his nightstand. I was panting like some kind of fiend as I watched him roll on a condom, his outline the most devastating thing I’d ever seen.

Then he was back behind me, pressing the fat head of his penis between my shaking thighs as he hauled me onto my knees that could barely hold my weight.

My back to his chest.

Those inked hands spread across my stomach, splaying wide, like a writhing statement written across my clear flesh. He ran them upward. Cupping my breasts for a moment, his thumbs perfect torture as he teased my nipples before he dragged all the way up to guide my arms over my head. He never stopped until he had my hands locked around the back of his neck.

His mouth came to my ear, and his hand curled around the front of my throat, his fingers fluttering along my jaw as he warned, “Hold on, Kitten, it’s about to get rough.”

And I didn’t care if I fell into his darkness.

Just as long as he met me there.

Twenty-Three

Trent

Los Angeles, Sixteen Years Ago

A gentle hand stroked through his hair, spurring him from sleep. The faintest rays of light bled through his bedroom window, and Trent blinked his eyes open as he rolled over to find his mom gazing down at him. Her voice was so soft as she whispered, “Are you ready, Sweet Warrior? It’s time.”

Trent’s heart jumped into overdrive, and he shot up in his bed and scrubbed his palms over his face. “It is? Where are we going?”

“Somewhere far, far away. Somewhere no one will find us. Somewhere we can be free. Are you ready?”

He nodded hard. “Yes.”

“Help me get your brothers.”

Gulping, he tossed back his covers and stood. His mom left the room to get Jud and Logan, while he moved across to where Nathan’s bed was on the opposite side. He nudged him softly on the shoulder. “Nathan, hey, wake up.”

His brother stirred. His dark eyes that were the same color as Trent’s were full of confusion as they blinked open. “What’s wrong?”

Trent’s chest squeezed so tight. With so much love. His mom said they had a special bond. That they could feel each other even when the other wasn’t there.

He thought it was true. The way he felt his brother’s heartrate speed up faster. The way he felt his worry and fear take him over.

Nathan was smaller than Trent. Kinder and softer in a way that made Trent sure he would always need to look out for him. Stand up for him when some asshole started making trouble, way the pricks always did at school.

“Nothing’s wrong. We’re just going to take a special trip.”

Nathan’s eyes went wide with excitement. “Like…to Disneyland?”

“Better’n that.”

Nathan scrambled to get up, grabbing his inhaler from the nightstand next to him, taking a real big puff. “I just gotta get my shoes.”

Trent already had them. He set Nathan’s favorite sneakers and a pair of socks down in front of him. Leaving them there, he moved to stuff a bunch of their things into a duffle bag.

“Why are we bein’ so quiet?” Nathan asked from behind.

“’cause no one else is allowed to know where we’re goin’.”

Alarm burned through the space. Pummeling Trent’s back. Slowly, Trent turned around as his twin asked, “What do you mean?”

“I mean, this isn’t a good place, and we’re gonna go somewhere I can take care of you. You and Mom and Jud and Logan. Where it’s only goin’ to be the five of us.”

Nathan gulped.

Trent squeezed his shoulder. “You don’t have to be afraid. I’m always gonna take care of you.”

Gunshots.

One.

Two.

Three.

A scream tore up his throat, and he went racing across the lawn. To his mom. His beautiful mom. She was covered in blood.

So much blood.

So much blood.

He turned her over.

Her hair was matted in it, soaked, her eyes full of fear. He pulled her onto his lap and rocked her.

Rocked her and rocked her while he begged, “No, Mom, no. Don’t leave us. Don’t leave us.”

Her fingers found his face, the words barely heard over the gurgling in her throat. “My sweet warrior. Watch over your brothers. Take care of them. Love them with all your might.”

“No, Mom. We need you here. Please. Please.” He begged it.

Torment rode out with his cries. Tears stung his eyes, blurring everything.

But still, he could see. He watched the man get back on his motorcycle like it was just another day. A man with the leather vest that said Demon’s Day on the patch on the back.