Envy wasn’t a palatable emotion. Even if I knew he was harmless, Stevie didn’t realize the effect she had on people. The particular getup she had on made her look like a walking advertisement for sin, and every fucker in the vicinity was lining up to join her in hell. Her luscious curves were on full display in the tight black dress she wore, and I had to stop myself from wanting to rip out the eyes of each and every man in the room.
I looked back at my brothers and watched as the three of them stared at her just as hungrily. They saw it too.The light.The thing that made her different from anyone we’d ever met before and the one thing sinning motherfuckers like us couldn’t resist.
“Tris, get the girl and get her the fuck out of here.” I seethed, making my way towards the back entrance. “Who’s bright idea was it to bring her here in the first place?”
In unison, the twins tilted their head towards Ezra.
“Of course it fucking was.”
Chapter 17
Stevie
Melanie’s words stung. It shouldn’t have bothered me, but as I stepped towards the bar, her words were all I could think about. Sure, I was angry at her for being such an awful bitch, but I couldn’t even fault her. There was truth in her words.
I was beneath Atlas and his brothers, and whatever fascination they had with me now was only temporary. It should’ve made me happy to know that they’d eventually grow tired of me. It meant my freedom was tangible, but all I felt was unease. I didn’t want to be a fleeting fascination; I wanted to be worthy.
The emotions I always suppressed were suddenly clawing their way towards the surface and it terrified me. The Reapers made me feel… everything.
“Listen, are you in some kind of trouble?” Jacob asked, pulling me away from my thoughts.
I had been so stuck in my head; I did even see his approach.
When I didn’t immediately give him an answer, he stepped out from behind the bar and walked towards me, gently resting his hands on my shoulders.
“If you are, you can tell me.” He said, leveling his kind blue eyes with mine.
Jacob was nice. Handsome, too. The kind of guy that should be able to make me feel something. But all my mind could focus on was The Reapers.
“What makes you say that?” I asked with a smile I didn’t feel.
“Well, for starters, that guy over there looks like he wants to murder you.” He said, glancing behind me.
I followed his gaze and saw Tristan standing a few feet away from us. The flashing lights of the club reflected off of his deep emerald irises as he peered at me through his thick dark lashes.
“He’s a friend.” I mumbled, never taking my eyes off of Tristan.
“Well, what about the guy from earlier?” Jacob challenged.
Jacob was being awfully inquisitive for someone working belly deep in a club full of criminals. I could tell from the look on Tristan’s face that he didn’t like that Jacob still had his hands on me and I was starting not to like it either. He was nice, but in that, I’m a nice guy so I deserve to fuck you, kind of way.
“He’s a friend too.” I said dismissively. “Just overly protective.”
“Look,” he said, painfully jostling my shoulders, “there’s an emergency escape in the handicap stall of the women’s bathroom. I can get you out-”
“I’m fine.” I said, cutting off his words and shaking out of his hold. “Thank you for being cool earlier, but don’t worry about me.”
I pulled him in for a hug, seizing the opportunity to slip his iPhone back into his pocket. Thankfully, he accepted what I offered with no more protests. He had no clue how close he just came to death. If there was one thing I learned about The Reapers, it was that they didn’t take kindly to others touching what was theirs.
“Fucking slut.” Melanie coughed, jabbing her bony elbow into my back and sending me stumbling forward.
Jacob helped me regain my balance as I shot Melanie a venomous look. I tried to play nice, but enough was enough. If I continued to let her walk all over me, the harassment wouldn't stop, it would only get worse. It was the same way for me in high school. Girls like her wouldn’t stop until they learned their lesson, and Melanie Diaz was overdue for a course on manners.
“How funny,” I said, with a smirk on my face, “that’s what Atlas growled into my ear last night.”
The entire room fell silent as all eyes turned towards Melanie, waiting to see her reaction. Her toothy smile faded into a grimace as blood rushed to her hollow cheeks.
“He loves his dirty talk.” I hissed, never taking my eyes off of her. “But, I’m sure you know that.”
