Lawless Kingdom (Reign & Ruin 1)

“Why would you hide something like that?” Audrey asked, disbelief coloring her tone.

“I didn’t—I don’t have a choice. Think of it as a gag order. I shouldn’t have even told you two this, but I have no fucking idea what else to do anymore.”

“I don’t understand. Are you trying to tell us we’re not…safe?” I felt ridiculous asking that. I half expected him to give me his signature goofy grin and say he was just fucking with us.

“It’s complicated, and I can’t explain it any more right now.” He looked off into the distance, towards the house. “We’ve been gone too long. When we get back, we need to act normal for a little and then leave. And no matter what happens from here forward…don’t ever trust them. Either of you.”

That had a scowl overtaking my frown. “Why are you just now telling me—us—all of this now? Because we’re here? You wouldn’t have told me otherwise?”

“I’ve wanted to for a while, but I had to be sure where this thing with us was going. You understand that at least, right?”

I understood that more than he could possibly know, because there were days I was still unsure about our relationship.

Especially as of late, but that was a conversation for another time, and the reminder kind of made me feel like I had no right to be upset about this. So, I simply nodded.

“This is all because of him,” he said so quietly I wasn’t sure Audrey and I were meant to hear it.

“What is?” I asked.

When he started forward, keeping hold of me so I would follow, I was expecting him not to answer. When he did, all his response managed to do was confuse me even more than I already was.

“He decided he wants you, and I’m not sure I can keep you safe. No one can.”

I stared blankly at the back of his head. Who the hell was the he he was referring to?

CHAPTER THREE

Rhiannon

“Act natural.”

Dax spoke those two words nearly forty minutes ago. Almost three drinks later, also thanks to Dax, I was ready to go.

It wasn’t that the party was lame or anything, but my boyfriend’s cryptic ass revelation and ominous warning had sort of put a damper on the evening’s festivities.

For someone who had seemed rather eager to get the hell out of dodge, now it felt like Dax was suddenly procrastinating.

The people around me didn’t suffer from my mental woes. Two naked girls ran past hand in hand, laughing as they jumped into the large pool out back. I didn’t have to turn around to know that’s where they were going. The splash was proof enough.

I could’ve gone my whole life without seeing their areolas.

I ignored all the curious eyes as I weaved around people holding the signature red party cups and brown beer bottles. The weaving being literal. My head felt as if it was being filled with fog or something, and perspiration was gathering on the back of my neck.

I’d left Audrey with Dax so I could find a bathroom to get myself together and relieve my bladder. I’m sure she would have gone with me, but I was a capable girl. I didn’t need someone to help me wipe. She and Dax would notice I was gone in a minute or two.

Hopefully by the time I got back we could leave. I was more than ready to get home now.

When I finally spotted what I assumed was the area for girls to use the bathroom, I promptly changed my mind about needing to go. There were way too many chicks already waiting to go in.

I spun on my heel to go back the way I had come and smacked into a chest as solid as a wall, causing my head to spin even more.

“Sorry,” I grunted, taking a step back.

I lifted my chin to see who I had plowed into and was instantly struck by two silver bullets. It was him. My mystery guy from earlier. And damn, those eyes. They were disarming, haunting in their intensity.

“You don’t have to throw yourself at me to gain my attention. You’ve had it since you walked through the front door.” His voice was deep, husky and melodic. It was also tinged with a certain level of disinterest that contradicted his joke. At least, I think it was a joke.

“I don’t want your attention.”

“Don’t you?”

I took a slight step back to put some more space between us. “I just said no.”

An amused smile revealed a set of gleaming white teeth, making him appear more charming and charismatic than cold and sinister. Being so close, even with my lids ready to fold over, his outer beauty was ten times more apparent. He could have been a GQ model. The jasmine and spice cologne he had on was a definite bonus. I, however, still wanted nothing more than to go home.