Cruel Seduction (Underground Kings 2)

It is disgusting, but I play the part well.

I slip the dress over my head and then slip the sandals on my feet, a silver strap makes its way across the top of my foot. I walk over to the bathroom against and spray a bit of perfume, the kind Kendrick doesn’t necessarily love, but allows

It is my favorite perfume.

Sebastian couldn’t get enough of it. He would tell me I smelt like a field of wildflowers after a long steady rain, and it drove him crazy. Maybe that is why I wear it so often, for Sebastian, for something good to come out of this situation with Kendrick. If it is something as a comforting and simple as perfume, then so be it.

I run my hands down my front while I stare at myself in the long mirror hanging at the end of the bathroom, against the far wall. The mirror itself is framed in real gold, but what I see doesn’t make me feel as beautiful as the mirror appears to be.

Kendrick will get what he wants. My breasts are barely contained in this dress, and the dark circles of my areolas can be seen through the thin material.

“My sweet! Let’s go,” Kendrick calls for me from the bottom of the staircase.

And like the good pet I am, I answer his order for me and go to him, waiting for the treat of the farmer’s market to show what a good girl I’ve been.

Chapter Five

SEBASTIAN

I still feel like I got the life sucked out of me after a week of being back from the warehouse. At least I wasn’t fucking dead, that is a huge bonus. Jaxon is in bed, recovering from a broken arm, the same arm that he banged a rock against the ground to get my attention. He is badass. Heaven’s leg is broken in three spots, and he needs a blood transfusion with how much blood he lost from the wounds. Grayson’s side is healing. After yanking out the steel rod, it was a through and through, an easy stitch-and-go, according to Jaxon.

Owen is fine. Four stitches on the back of his head and he is still a stubborn ass. Maybe I had hoped the solid smack against the wall would knock some sense into him.

Nope.

And sinc

e we are the only two able to walk without passing out, we are on a grocery run together. Owen is just a joy to be around, really—a pure fucking joy.

“Get out of the way, asshole!” he yells out the window and gives the guy next to us the bird.

A poor old man who can barely see over the wheel. Jaxon would have his ass. “Do I need to drive? I’m tired of you yelling at everyone. You’re making my head hurt.” I rub my temples, wishing I would have had him come alone. The man is a damn menace and annoying.

“He was going ten under the speed limit. I don’t have time for that bullshit.”

“All we have his time. Do you know how long it is going to take for everyone to get back on their feet? Months, Owen. Months. And that old man wasn’t doing anything wrong. He was doing the best he could. Maybe you should start giving a shit about others around you instead of your inapt ability to always be a complete asshole!” I shout and slam my fist against the leather dash.

His hands turn over the wheel, clutching his fingers tight until his knuckles are glowing white. He doesn’t say anything. He knows.

“Whatever the hell your problem is, fix it, or you’re going to end up hurting someone you care about.”

“At least I didn’t blow up the group.”

“Oh, you sure about that? After I told you to walk away, you grabbed onto the vault, or don’t you remember? If you hadn’t touched the damn vault, the explosion wouldn’t have happened!”

“Or maybe if you did your goddamn homework, Sebastian, we would’ve been better prepared, and we wouldn’t have nearly died.”

“Right, blame someone else for your actions. Pretty fucking typical.” I lean my elbow against the door and place my head on the window, letting the cool feel of it rush over my sweaty skin. I don’t know why I'm being like this. Owen is … Owen, and he isn’t going to change. I have a lot on my mind, mostly Gabriella, and how after so long of searching for her, I haven’t found her. It’s weighing on me. I’ve failed her.

“Whatever,” Owen huffs and takes a left into the town of Trinidad. The street for the most part is shut down. Huge tents line either side of the road, and they go on and on, probably to the end of the city limits, which is only about a mile or so.

I’d forgotten about the market. I was ready to go to the grocery store. This was perfect. The day was beautiful, a light cast of gray skies, typical weather for northern California, and people have umbrellas strapped to their sides just in case it pours. Rain is always likely at some point during the day.

We park at The Lighthouse Grill, a restaurant that is so delicious people from all over the country come to Trinidad just to try it. Owen slams the truck in park and pouts for a second.

I hat fighting with him. Owen tends to bring the aggression out in people, and I fell right into it, knowing better. He is a big guy and a bit of a teddy bear deep inside.

Real deep.