Page 73 of Pucked Around and Found Out

“You told me you didn't want to see them,” I remind him, confused by the sudden change.

He shrugs, the movement casual. “I know.”

“Then why the sudden change of mind?” I press, needing to understand.

His hand darts out to cup my cheek in a move so tender it robs me of air. My breath catches and I feel tears prick the backs of my eyes at the gentleness.

“Because you're hiding something from me. Fiona was in too many places she shouldn't have been. Places she shouldn't have even known about.”

Panic begins to boil inside me, hot and immediate. “Kellan⁠—”

“Was dead when I brought you to the warehouse.”

The words hit like a slap. I fight not to tense, but he's too observant. He'll notice the slightest change in my demeanor.

“I have a rat in my midst,” he continues, his voice dropping to something deadly. “And even if you choose not to give me the files, I'll figure out who it is and make the cunt pay for daring to turn on me.”

The viciousness in his tone sends a shiver down my spine, not of fear, but of something darker. Something that recognizes the predator in him and responds to it.

“Xaden, I'm not⁠—”

“Lie to my face again and see what the fuck I do to you, Tink.”

I snap my mouth closed, admitting the truth without saying the words.

He sees it, reads it in my expression with devastating accuracy.

His hand drops from my face and he takes a step backward. The small amount of space he puts between us feels like a chasm, vast and impossible to cross.

“Five a.m. Don't be late.”

All I can do is nod like an idiot, my throat too tight to speak.

I force myself to put one foot in front of the other and walk out of the room, feeling the weight of his gaze burning into my back like a brand.

“Tink?” I pause but don’t turn to face. “Tomorrow morning, you will give up the location of your brother.” I say nothing as I walk out with dread pooling inside me.

When I make it to the living room, I slam to a halt.

Omen is standing there, his expression carefully neutral. Four of Xaden's men are scattered around the room, keeping watch over my friend like he's a prisoner.

Guilt crashes over me. I left him out here alone while I fucked the enemy.

“Let's go,” is all Omen says before making his way toward the door.

I follow behind him silently, not meeting his eyes. Not able to face the judgment I'm sure I'll see there.

I don't ask where Carnage is as I climb into the car beside Omen. Neither of us says a word the entire drive back to the safehouse.

The silence is heavy with everything unsaid.

I also didn't see Caspian before I left, which worries me more than I want to admit.

I need to speak to him. Need to warn him.

There's a pit in my stomach, a terrible, gnawing certainty that if Cas goes to the rink tomorrow with Xaden, Kellan won't be the only friend I lose there.

And the thought of losing Cas, of being responsible for his death because I couldn't keep my legs closed around Xaden, makes me want to throw up.