Page 96 of Ghosted

“The cage.”

My smile slows.

Oh. That’s interesting.

Jagger steps closer, voice low enough to drag across my skin. “Friday night. You and me.”

I wipe blood from my mouth, watching him over my knuckles. “You want witnesses?”

“I want everyone to see.”

My pulse climbs again, mean and eager. “See what?”

His eyes drop to my mouth, to the damage he put there, then back to my face.

“What’s left of you when I’m done.”

For once, I don’t have a joke ready. Because he just handed me exactly what I wanted, only sharper. Public, violent and fucking personal.

His precious control dragged under the lights where everyone can watch it rot.

Then my grin comes back, slow and filthy.

“Fuck,” I murmur. “Alice really did ruin you.”

“Do not, even say her fucking name,” he says, “or I swear to god Johnny, I will destroy you. I won’t even wait for the goddamn cage.”

Then he walks out.

The door slams hard enough to shake the frame.

For a minute, I stand there with one hand braced on the counter, jaw aching, lip split, coffee cooling on the floor.

Then I start laughing, quiet at first, then harder.

Fucker hit me. Told me he was going to kill me. Booked us a pretty slot in the cage.

Fuck, the excitement is enough to get my blood pumping straight to my cock.

I go to the bathroom and flick on the light. The mirror gives me a bloody mouth, swelling jaw, red on my teeth, and eyes too bright to pass for normal.

I look fucking fantastic.

I lean closer, dragging my thumb under my lip, smearing it across my skin like war paint.

My little brother thinks Friday is where this ends.

That’s the sweetest part.

Wraith is finally coming out to play, and Alice is the leash around his throat.

“Fuck,” I murmur, grinning at myself.

Now I know exactly where to pull.

9

ALICE