Discovering Alexis: Truths & Lies (Bad Boy Rebels 7)

I nod, totally lying because deep down, I know I’m as annoying as him. “Yep.”

He glowers at me, but it’s a playful move. “So, you never try to annoy me?”

“Nope, I’m completely innocent.” Yeah, I’m so not, but I’m not about to admit that to him.

West snorts a laugh. “You’re about as far from innocent as they come.”

I scowl at him, but I’m struggling not to laugh. “I am not.”

“Are to.”

“Are not.”

“To.”

“Not.”

“To, to.”

“What?”

He laughs, his eyes crinkling around the corners. “That was fun.”

I roll my eyes, but a smile threatens to turn upward at my lips. “Whatever, you weirdo.”

I can’t help but smile a little bit. I’m actually feeling decent and have almost forgotten the reason why I’m standing out in a hallway, holding two different guys hands. But then a stressed breath puffs from West’s lips and his whole demeanor tenses. And just like that, I’m reminded of why I’m here.

“Are you ready for this?” West asks me with a nervous edge in his tone.

“I have no idea,” I answer honestly. “Since I have no clue what’s going to happen.”

Pity fills Ellis’s eyes and my anxiety skyrockets.

“Everything will be fine.” West gives my hand a squeeze and offers me a small, tense smile.

When I glance at Ellis, he gives me an uneasy smile as well. And his eyes are crammed with worry. I may not know him, but since he knows what’s going on … Let’s just say his nervousness makes me fear what waits for me on the other side of the door.

Dungeons & chains

Alexis

I swear to God it takes West an eternity to twist the doorknob and open the door. In all actuality, it probably takes about two seconds. But I’m losing track of time, like everything is creeping in slow motion, like I’m blazed out of my mind or something. Perhaps the drugs injected into my system are causing it. Or perhaps my increasing body temperature is making me hallucinate. Or maybe I have a fever.

I open my mouth to ask West if the drug put in me has any side effects, but then he opens the door all the way and all words are lost.

I’m not sure what I expected, but definitely not some sort of dungeon looking room with padded, soundproof walls and chains bolted into the cement floor. Bars line the ceiling along with a single spotlight, the florescent lighting nearly blinding. And all of that is just the room part. I haven’t even got started on what the people in the room are doing.

Minus West, Ellis, and I, two other people occupy the room. One of them is a guy, with shoulder length brown hair, and he’s wearing black cargo pants and a matching hoodie. The metal cuffs of the chains are secured around his wrists, his nose is bleeding, and welts cover his face. He looks utterly miserable and beaten, on the verge of death. I wonder if he’s going to die. I wonder if I should be frightened.

Why am I not more frightened?

“Is that the guy who tranquilized me?” I whisper to no one in particular.

“Yeah, it is.” Ellis’s breath touches my ear as he responds.

I nearly jump out of my skin from his unexpected nearness. “That’s what I thought.” My gaze wanders to the other guy in the room, a guy I met only today, yet again, I feel like I’ve met him before.

Steel.

Holy hell, he looks even scarier than before. And, even though I hate admitting it, kind of hot.

Unlike the first time I saw him, he’s stripped off his shirt and is now only wearing jeans secured by a studded belt and thick combat boots. Sleeves of bright ink and intricate patterns tattoo his lean arms and chest and sweat drips down his rock solid abs.

Holy shit, Masie would be flippin’ swooning herself to death right now.

My heart instantly clutches at the thought of Masie.

Stop thinking about her! The girl you thought was your best friend never existed. You need to forget about her.

Yeah, easier thought than actually done since almost every one of my memories for the last four years consists of Masie and I.

I swallow a lump wedged in my throat, wishing I could wipe my brain clean of her. And Blaine.

West abruptly swipes his finger along the inside of my wrist, drawing my attention to him.

You okay? He mouths.

I nod, not only lying to him but also lying to myself. Because deep down, I’m not okay. I’m hurt. And confused. And worried.

West searches my eyes, a pucker forming at his brow, and I question if he can see the truth hidden inside me.

“Now, are you going to tell me or am I going to have to beat it out of you,” Steel growls out.

I rip my gaze off of West to look over at Steel.

He’s pacing in front of the chained up guy and each step he takes is calculated, like a predator stalking its prey.

The guy on the floor shuts his eyes and rests his head against the wall. “I already told you I don’t know anything else.”

“Wrong answer.” Steel lifts his booted foot and bashes the bottom of it against the guys face.

Blood squirts out of the guy’s already bloody nose as he makes a sickening gargling sound. Steel gives him no time to recover, his eyes darkening as he grabs a fistful of the guy’s hair and slams his clenched fist straight into his already swollen jaw.

My heart slams against my chest and my grip on West’s hand and Ellis’s constricts. This is crazy. Insane. I mean, sure I’ve gotten into fights, but never this bloody. I should probably run away. Leave this house and never come back, right? I imagine if my parents were here, my mom would tell me to do just that and my father wouldn’t have even wanted me near these guys—he was always a bit overprotective. But they’re not here and neither is the Alexis that existed while they were around. And this Alexis, the one who lost her parents, had her heart ripped out by her two best friends, and was tranquilized by the guy currently being beat up, wants some answers. So my feet remain planted to the floor even as Steel raises his fist, preparing to punch the guy again. I want to shut my eyes, but I don’t. I watch Steel as he bares his teeth, his fist rising and crashing into the man. It’s as if he’s gone completely mad. I wonder if he has. I wonder if he’s straight up crazy. Or I wonder if something much deeper is causing him to look so out of control.

Remember…

Remember…

I blink as strange images and a voice pierce my brain. Then I press the heel of my hand to my forehead, and just like that, the voice and images fade.

I think I’m going crazy.

I think Steel is going crazy.

He moves to strike again with untamed fury in his eyes.

West releases my hand. “That’s enough.” He strides forward and grabs hold of Steel’s arm.

Steel’s head whips in West?

?s direction and if looks could kill, West would be a dead man standing.

“Let go of me,” Steel grits out, a vein in his neck bulging.

West shakes his head, his fingers remaining wrapped around Steel’s bicep. “If you kill him, he’s not going to be any use to us.”

Steel’s jaw clenches. “Fine.” He jerks his arm away from West, straightens, and storms toward Ellis and I.

As he steps underneath the light, I notice the blood splattered across his chest—which I’m pretty sure isn’t his blood—and the elevated scars on his left side. Four scars to be exact; each almost the same length and run vertically along his ribs. I don’t know what would cause that kind of scarring but if I had to guess, I’d go with a bear attack. He must have been in so much pain when he got them, and even though the guy gets under my skin, I feel kind of bad for him.

Swallowing hard, I let my gaze reside on his face, only to find that his eyes are locked on me. Our gazes collide and he wears no emotion in his expression, his face a blank mask. But his silver eyes thunder with a storm. I want to look away. Need to look away. But I can’t seem to get my eyes to cooperate.

Look away, Alexis. Look away.

I blink, trying another tactic, but I remain frozen as he stops in front of me.

“Are you scared?” he asks in a low, almost hopeful tone.

He wants me to be afraid of him? Yeah, this guy is definitely a weirdo. Albeit a sexy weirdo.

“Of you? Or of the other guy?” I ask in the most casual tone I can muster.

He studies me with an indecipherable look. “You are afraid of me, aren’t you?”

“No. Although, I’m betting you hear that a lot.” I press my lips together as his intense gaze burrows into me.

“And what about the other guy?” He points over his shoulder at the chained up guy. “Are you afraid of him?”

“Why would I be? He’s chained up, and I’m surrounded by three very tough looking guys who I’m pretty sure were assigned to protect me.” I pat his arm. “Thanks, by the way.”

He gapes down at his arm where I patted him. When Ellis snorts out a laugh, his cold gaze shifts to him.