Cruel Infatuation (Underground Kings 3)

Sliding the key into the lock, I inspect it and then decide it’s safe to go inside. The silver door handle jiggles as I turn the key. I step into the room and search for the light. When I feel it, I flip the switch and a simple clean room greets me. The floors are wooden, the bed is small with a red comforter, and a dresser sits in the corner with a mirror above it. To the left, there’s the bathroom. Shower, toilet, and sink; nothing special.

I throw my backpack on the floor, take my phone out for the first time today, and strip off my clothes. I can’t wait to get in a hot shower.

I click the power button to turn on my cell as I walk to the bathroom. I turn on the steaming hot shower and wait to see if I have a message from Isaac. It doesn’t take long. My phone buzzes a few times, but none of them are from Isaac.

They are all from my mom and Alicia.

I frown, and a pang grows in my heart. I don’t understand why he wouldn’t talk to me unless something bad happened. I don’t want to bother him and be that annoying, clingy girl.

Minus the fact that I’m already that crazy girl going to see him…

I don’t want to factor that in.

My phone buzzes one last time, and it’s from him. I let out a breath of relief and smile when I see his message.

IsaacGray88: I can’t talk much today. I had something pretty personal happen, but I’m thinking of you. Travel safe. I’ve missed talking to you. Feel free to send a bunch of pictures of your travels. I’ll do my best to reach out when I can. XOXO.

Hugs and kisses?

I squeal with excitement. “Okay, keep cool. Don’t read into it because he will hate you for a day or so when he sees you’re eighteen and at his doorstep,” I say to myself. It doesn’t take the wind out of my sails like I thought it would.

I take a picture of the bathroom and see that my body is fogged in the mirror. It’s sexy but isn’t revealing, just enough to tease the imagination. He can’t see my face or boobs, which I would never send to him until I’m eighteen.

I chew on my fingernail and debate if I want to send it.

I do.

FinleyPark: Washing off the hot, sweaty day here in Kentucky. Miss talking to you too. XOXOXO.

I grin and set the phone down on the counter and step into the shower, moaning when the hot water flows down my back. The water turns a very light beige color, the dirt and sweat finally spinning down the drain. I stand there for a minute and lean against the wall. I stare at my arms and legs, check out the nail marks on my thighs, and they look worse than they did yesterday.

I want to cry. I want to fall to my knees from fear, but I can’t.

I can’t let fear win, not yet because it’s the only thing that can stop me from running, and then I’ll just be a victim to its trigger finger.

After washing my hair with the hotel shampoo and conditioner, then my body with a plain bar of soap, I get out of the shower and wrap myself up in a cotton towel. I reach

for my phone and grab nothing but air.

That’s impossible. I put it there, right?

Am I that tired?

I shrug. Probably left it on the bed. My eyes sag with exhaustion, and my bones ache for sleep. I open the bathroom door and walk out into the small hallway, turn left, and stop in my tracks when I see two men beside my bed.

Darryl.

I don’t know who the other one is.

I glance to my backpack where all the money is that I stole from Trevor and my mom. If I can get to my bag, I can grab the small handgun I purchased at a pawn shop. It was one of the first things I did before I traveled too far.

“Well, look who it is. Dixie said she didn’t know where you were, but we told that kind man downstairs that we were your uncles, and he was so damn happy to show us the way.”

“What the hell do you want?” I ask, clutching the towel tighter. I’m having deja vu. This is how it happened with Trevor.

“We hate that bitch Dixie, and we want to prove to her that no one can fuck the Harden boys and get away with it.” Darryl licks his lips and closes the space between us. His finger traces over my collarbone. “A girl like you shouldn’t travel alone. Anything could happen,” he whispers against my skin before kissing my chin. He hums in delight. “You smell good.” He wraps his hand around mine and tries to get me to drop the towel, but I hold on tight. “I wonder if that cunt smells just as good.”

I kick the bastard between the knees and dive for my backpack, but the other guy is on me just as fast. He rips the towel off me, and I scream when my wet body is exposed to the air. He squeezes my tits too hard, and tears prickle my eyes.