Reese

“I won’t hurt you.”

Maybe he’s more caveman than psycho, but the day I let a man call the shots will be the day I get a property of tattoo above my pussy.

“I came with Blink and Vega, and I’ll be leaving with them.”

“You said you didn’t belong to them.”

“I don’t. I belong to me.”

He studies me as if he is trying to process my words. I’ll admit, I’m kind of confused myself. Either this guy has taken a few too many blows to the head, or he’s a few peanuts short of a Snickers.

“But you’re not with them?” He tilts his head. There is something innocent about the action, which is ridiculous given the fact he looks like he pillages villages for a living.

“No, but I’m not sure I’m not with them either,” I admit because I have no idea what’s going on, and I’m loath to lie and say they mean nothing to me.

He looks at his feet, the pushy, demanding man from before looking unsure for a moment. He lifts his head, and a smile slips over his face.

“I can share. I’m pretty fucking good at it, apparently.”

I’m slightly thrown, to be honest, but I’m not sure why. The hairs on my arms stand on end, but I dismiss the feeling while he seems to be acting reasonably.

He tugs me back the other way, where Vega and Blink are waiting for us.

“I thought you’d bailed for a minute.” Blink shakes his head, then frowns when he sees Graves holding my hand.

“You two know each other?”

“No, but we will,” Graves states.

Vega’s jaw clenches, but he doesn’t say anything, and the tension becomes palpable.

“Look, I don’t know what’s going on with you three, but I’ll be damned if I stand here while you all try to pee on my leg.”

“Mal, wait.” Blink reaches for me, but I step away and twist myself free from Graves’s hold at the same time.

“I have things to do. I’ll see you around.” I pull some money from my back pocket and toss it on the table, not bothering to count how much is there. I just need to get out before I choke on testosterone.

“Malice!” Vega’s voice calls out, but I don’t stop.

I jog back to the gym and head through the staff entrance. I don’t waste time hanging around in case they follow me. I grab my helmet and backpack from my locker and head out to my bike.

I slip on my helmet and climb onto my bike, revving her up just as the three dicks spill out of the back of the gym. I flip them off and leave before they can stop me. I head home, using the time and distance to clear my head.

It takes me almost three hours to get to Lollie’s, thanks to an accident on the freeway. By the time I pull up, I’m exhausted and in need of a shower.

Climbing off my bike, I head to the door, twirling my keys as I walk. I stop to type in the code on the security keypad, thenI flip through the keys until I find the pink one and unlock the door before heading inside and flicking the light on.

First stop, the guest bedroom. Each of us keeps a change of clothes at each other’s place for times like this. I’ve never been more grateful for that than I am now.

I strip and climb into the shower, washing my hair twice when I think about lying on the bathroom floor. I dry off and rummage around the drawers in the bedroom until I find a tank top and a pair of boy shorts to sleep in before pulling my hair up into a messy bun so that it doesn’t drip down my back.

Gathering my dirty stuff, I toss it in the washer while I grab a bottle of water and move to the glass doors that lead out to the lake. Flipping on the outdoor lights, I spot Charlie near the edge of the lake and make my way toward him.

“Hey, handsome. Miss me?”

Charlie walks to me in that sinister way only crocs can. Most people would be running and screaming by now, but Lollie has had Charlie since he was a baby, and he’s pretty chill. At least as far as a crocodile can be. It doesn’t mean I’m going to stick my head in his mouth any time soon.

He stops when he reaches me and rubs himself against my leg like a mutated cat.