Cruel Infatuation (Underground Kings 3)

“I have saved myself,” she sneers. “ I didn’t cross the line with you because I didn’t want to get you in trouble. I kept that in mind. Isn’t that worth anything?”

“No. Please leave,” I say again. “I’ll call the cops next time.”

“Who do you think brought me here?”

Damn it! She is so damn persistent. “Will you just go? What the hell is your problem?” I hiss, taking a step forward in attempt to scare. I’d never lay a hand on her, not like whoever left bruises all over her.

“Grayson, that’s enough. I think it’s time for you to cool down. Why don’t you go check on Dillon? I’ll get your friend settled in another room,” Jaxon tries to interrupt the building tension, but it isn’t going to work.

“She isn’t my friend, and she isn’t staying here. You’re an adult now. You can figure out the ways of the world on your own.”

She walks forward, her chest nearly colliding with mine, and the smell of rain swirls off her skin and invades my lungs. It’s my favorite scent in the world. I love the smell of rain, and she is drenched in it. “I have figured out the world on my own. I’ve learned no matter what people do, they disappoint you. I’ve learned that no one can be trusted, and it’s every person for themselves. The only way to survive in this world is to make sure the only one you can trust is yourself. I might be young and naïve when it comes to certain things, but I know what it’s like to fight for your life to survive. I really wanted to be your friend, Grayson, that’s it. I’m sorry I lied, but I never would have crossed the line while I was seventeen. And I know it’s taboo. I know it’s fucked up and wrong, but I’m eighteen now. Doesn’t that count for anything? Doesn’t that mean we can be friends?”

“She’s got a point,” Owen drops in what he thinks. “She’s an adult now.”

“By whose standards? The law?” I scoff at the absurdity. “No. Not in my book.”

“I’m not going to fight or beg to be in your life. I stupidly thought you’d understand having to fight for your life to get to where you need to be. I left a bad situation and realized I didn’t have anywhere else to go, but I know when I’m not wanted. I’ll be damn if I put myself in a situation where I’m a burden.” She holds her shoulders back and exhales, turning her head to Heaven. “Sorry to interrupt everyone’s morning. Grayson…” She says nods as she brushes by me to walk out the door.

She marches out into the pouring rain, disappearing into the curtain of water. I slam the door and lay my forehead against it, finally able to breathe.

“You’re a dick,” Heaven says, breaking the silence.

“Seriously. Way to be harsh,” Owen agrees.

“She could have stayed here. Instead, you send the poor girl into a storm,” Jaxon says, making himself another cup of coffee.

I give them all bamboozled expressions as I lay my eyes on each of them. “Are you kidding me? We were all here for the same conversation, right? You saw what just happened? You saw Finley, who is eighteen today, come from who knows where to see me? You heard that she lied about her age and was really seventeen on that dating site? I wasn’t the only one here for that, right? I could have sworn you spit out your coffee, Jaxon.”

“Well, yeah,” he says under his breath. “It was a shock; don’t get me wrong. Was what she did okay? No. What was some of the stupidest shit you did when you were a teenager? I know there were times I was logging into a chat room, pretending to be older when really I was barely been fourteen. It was fun. It was thrilling, but who knows who I was talking to?”

“Oh my god, I remember those chat rooms. Some of that shit got nasty.” Heaven crinkles his nose at a memory, then grins. “I loved it.”

“You’re saying I need to forgive her?”

“No.” Jaxon shakes his head and lifts his coffee mug to his mouth. “I’m saying maybe give her the benefit of the doubt and add in your own experiences. What was the worst shit you ever did when you were her age? She was desperate. Maybe hear more of what she has to say. No one is telling you to fall in love with her, but maybe you can be her friend.”

I clench my fists. “It may not look it to you, but to me a line has been crossed. She lied. She made me want to … it doesn’t matter.” I stare out the garage door and see the rain coming down in violent sheets. Thunder shakes the house, and lightning cracks along the sky. They are right about one thing. I was wrong for sending her out in this weather. “Goddamn it.” I haul ass out the door and slam it behind me, frustrated as hell. This damn girl. I swear, I knew I should have never gone on that stupid dating site. Now, I have to babysit.

Picking up my feet, I run out into the monsoon and head down the driveway. The rain is bulleting against my skin, stinging like needles, and I can hardly blink w

ithout water getting in my eyes. My shirt is soaked, and I haven’t been outside for more than a minute. I lift my hand to block my eyes from the rain so I can see.

“Hey,” I shout after her when I finally see her walking slowly down the driveway.

She ignores me and keeps walking. The tips of her fingers can be seen on either side of her elbows which tells me she’s cold since her arms are crossed.

“Finley, stop. Come inside.”

“No, I’d rather walk in the rain than to feel unwanted. Really, it’s fine. This isn’t me making a fuss. It’s me being honest. I’d rather figure out my own way than to stay in that house and have you spew your hate for me every day.” Her hair is in a messy bun now, revealing a small tattoo on the back of her neck. I wonder how she got that since she wasn’t legal until today.

“Just stop.” I reach for her and wrap my arm around her skinny bicep.

She hisses in pain and wrenches her arm away.

“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to hurt you.” I hold my hands in the air, showing I’m not making a move toward her.

“You didn’t. It’s just bruised. That’s all,” she says.