Forbidden (Blood Ties #7)

“So you can hang me out to dry?”

That cold smirk was callous. “Now why would we do something like that?”

I flinched. I didn’t trust him. I glanced at the others. I didn’t trust any of them.

Only, they’d protected me, hadn’t they?

My jeans slid out from under me and my panties were pulled off. Heat rushed to my cheeks when I met The Priest’s stare as Riven pulled one boot free, then the other.

In the space of a heartbeat, my jeans were gone, leaving me on the cold tiled floor. Panic filled me…the kind that made me freeze.

He saw.

Staring down at me.

He saw.

His hands stilled. That smirk faded instantly.

“Say the words, Helene.” His gaze drifted over my scars. “Tell me to stop.”

Come home, Helene.Vivienne’s words resounded in my head. She was why I was here. Without them, I had nothing. I licked dry lips and whispered, “Not on your fucking life.”

There was a quirk in the corner of his mouth. His thumb brushed along a scar on my thigh, drawing his gaze. He fixed on that scar before those dark eyes shifted higher. I swallowed hard as realization dawned in his stare. His scowl cut deeper, moving upwards to the tiny white lines I’d done to myself, then the thick, pink raised scar the bomb had left behind.

“King,” he whispered, and licked his lips. “The same King that bombed the building. The same King that took out five of my men to get Ryth Castlemaine and her father free.”

A cold shiver raced through me.

He lifted that dangerous stare to mine, then he slowly pulled away and pushed to stand.

I said nothing, just watched as he turned and walked toward the door.

“Where are you going?” Kane barked.

But Riven didn’t answer, just zipped and buttoned his pants once more, then shoved through the connecting door and disappeared.

“What the hell just happened?” Kane turned back to me.

I wanted to answer, but that icy grip inside me clenched tight, choking the words in the back of my throat. I should’ve known this was dangerous. Should’ve known telling them the truth was placing my life in the palms of their hands.

Only, without it, my life was forfeit anyway.

And so were my sisters’.

Thethudof the door sounded and Riven’s heavy steps faded until they were gone.

Where the fuck are you going, Riven?

And what are you planning to do?

TWENTY-ONE

Riven

You planned this?My words resounded in my head.

But it was that cold, calculated smile which haunted me.