She sways in ways I’ve yet to see, a snake-like rhythm I didn’t know she had.

My stomach aches as I watch her, a sick and twisted pain that plays a lot like guilt.

Beauty...

Her eyes pop open meeting mine, and all her movement stops, her hands fall to her sides like dead weight, and her head begins to tip, too heavy for her to hold up any longer.

That’s how med cocktails work, in spurts of energy, and then you’re like a fucking zombie to the outside world while living in your own twisted one.

With a frown, I wrap my arm around her middle, scooping her in my arms and glance over my shoulder.

Andre rushes up, talking into his earpiece and as quick as he’s called, more men are in front of us, clearing a path. Head after head turns our way, but nobody stares long and not a word is spoken.

She laughs at nothing along the way, her eyes snapping around as if following a butterfly only she can see.

Andre opens the gate wider so I can easily exit and pulls my passenger door open for me, disappearing just as quick.

I lay her in the seat, reclining it so she’s able to lie back and reach across to buckle her in.

She snaps from her little trance, a hand shooting out to cover mine on the seatbelt.

I turn my head toward her, and she tilts hers.

“My sweet Captain,” she rasps, her fingers coming up to skim along my jaw. Slowly, the pad of her thumb drags along my bottom lip only to come back to the center. She slides it down until my mouth is free from her touch and subconsciously my chin dips with her, fighting to keep the connection. “And his sweet, poisoned lips.”

My brows pull in, and I touch her flushed face with the back of my hand. “You feelin’ okay?”

She hums, her eyes closing as her hands leave me completely.

I glide my knuckle along her jaw, my palm opening to brush across the silk of her skin, but she doesn’t move.

She’s asleep.

My sleeping beauty.

I sigh, step back and close the door.

The second I turn, knuckles come down across my chin and I fall back against the door.

My head whips around, my body setting into fight mode in the same second, but I freeze when I find Royce standing there, his hand still in a fist at his side.

He glares but says nothing and for some reason neither do I.

I stand there silent as he tears the back door open and throws himself inside.

It takes a minute for me to collect myself and then I call Maddoc.

He answers on the first ring.

“I got ‘em.”

“Why didn’t he answer?” he snaps.

I shake my head, walking around to my side. “They’re fucked up. I don’t even know if he has his phone or not.”

“Any trouble?”

“Nah.” I climb inside, frowning, glancing at Royce over my shoulder. “They’re both already passed out. Guess they wanted to get fucked up.”

Maddoc pauses. “Without us?”

“Maybe ‘cause I’m a baby carrying buzz kill,” Raven offers, letting me know we’re on speakerphone.

“Yeah.” I nod, tension lining my gut as I look at the small cut on my lip in the mirror.

Maybe.

Victoria

When my eyes peel open, I freeze, close and reopen them, but when I do he’s still here, in my bed.

Slowly, I sit up, and my head pounds instantly.

A hangover? Seriously?

I lick my lips, realizing how dry my mouth is and climb from the bed, all my clothes from last night still on, minus the shoes.

I tiptoe to the bathroom, and right as I’m about to close the door, my eyes move back to the bed.

Captain lies flat on his back, shirt off, staring right at me.

The shit from yesterday comes crashing back like a truck to a tree, everything inside me bends and breaks on impact, reshaping what was never formed right in the first place.

He kissed Mallory, probably had sex with her, and here he is, just fucked hair and worn out eyes to match, but there was no action in my bed.

“What’s wrong?” he rasps.

“Nothing.”

“You’re lying.”

“Oh now you can tell when I’m lying or not?”

His eyes narrow and he pushes into a sitting position.

I lean against the frame. “You should go.”

His frown deepens, but it’s the confusion in his eyes forcing mine away.

“Go before Zoey comes looking.”

“I told you before...” He trails off, clearly attempting to gauge me. “Let me worry about her.”

I nod and slowly he drags himself to his feet, but he doesn’t walk out, he makes his way to me, and with every step, my ribs ache.

My throat thickens as his knuckles find their way under my chin, lifting my head to his. His steady scrutiny momentarily steals my thoughts, and I sag against him. “Next time you want to go out and get fucked up, don’t.”

He holds me there, in his palm, under his spell, and then he lets go, and the hole it leaves inside me is a sign I need to prepare to do the same.

The plan was to make him mine.

Plans change.

Chapter 27

Victoria

After a long, scorching shower, I make my way downstairs, my foot hitting the final step the same time Captain’s carry him out the front door.

I look to Zoey sitting at the bar with Raven, a plate of cut-up strawberries and a cup of milk in front of her.

The second Captain is gone, Raven hops up to grab a can of whipped cream from the fridge and shakes it up. “Okay, Zo, let me show you how to eat a strawberry.”

Maddoc scoffs, coming around the corner with his gym bag over his shoulder. “Keep pouring all that white into your mouth, baby, and I’ll—”

“Yo!” Royce shouts, throwing a couch pillow at Maddoc, but it falls in the middle of the floor. “Sweet little baby girl ears.”

Raven laughs and nods her chin at Zoey who follows her lead, leaning her head back so Raven can spray some right into her mouth.

Zoey laughs, but then her eyes widen. “Oh no! I have to tell Papa something!”

Raven quickly spins, flicking her still cream covered tongue along Maddoc’s lips and hurries after her. “Tell Captain we’re out back.”

Maddoc tries to frown at the shit on his mouth, but he can’t completely hide the smirk as he licks his lips. “You sure you don’t wanna shoot some hoops. Mac and a couple other assholes are gonna be out there.”

Royce shakes his head, pulling his eyes from his phone to Maddoc’s. “I’m good.”

“You mean you feel like shit?” he tosses out.

Royce nods. “Yup.”

“That’s what you get, dick,” he snaps. “Watch Raven.”

“I know the drill, brother.”

Maddoc nods, tipping his chin toward me in acknowledgment as he walks out.

I grab an apple, biting into it as I lean across the counter.

Royce stares right at me, and I can tell he has something on his mind, but before anything can be said, the front door opens and Captain walks in.

He glances around, his eyes landing on me.

I cover my mouth to speak with my mouth full of apple. “Zoey’s outside with your dad and Raven.”