Lethal Temptations (Tempted #5)(66)

I reared my hand back and threw my phone across the room, watching as it bounced off the wall. I grabbed the arms of the chair and hoisted myself up, walking through the dark room to where the phone landed. The screen was shattered, mimicking the cracks covering my dead heart.

I’m going to miss her when the lights go out, when I’m alone in the dark remembering how it felt to be inside heaven.

I’ll always think of her.

My Lace.

My lethal temptation.





I didn’t sleep that night, my mind was racing like I did two eight balls of cocaine so, I checked out of the hotel and jumped into my van before the sun came up. I rode back to New York with a van full of guns, a broken phone and a goddamn hangover.

Only grief waited for me so why I was in a rush to run back to hell was a mystery. I couldn’t sit in that room another second though because all I did was think of her and how I would have to break it off.

How the f*ck was I going to do it looking at her, watching her eyes go dark as night as the torment of my words stabbed her? I couldn’t do it on the phone and was a fool to think I’d be able to do it face to face.

By the time I pulled the van up to the Dog Pound I was exhausted, crashing from the booze and the mental anguish. I wanted to sleep for the next three days and if I was lucky when I finally awoke, the war would be over.

Fat chance.

I slammed the door of the van and damned the f*cking thing to hell.

If I never had to drive a cage again it would be too soon.

The parking lot was relatively empty reminding me, Jack was due to go up to Otisville to visit Vic. Pipe was spending more time at the garage trying to expand and Wolf was searching the map for recruits, leaving Riggs and Bones in charge of the home front.

God help us all.

I entered the clubhouse, spotted Bones on the phone and tipped my chin in acknowledgement before heading towards the stairs. I reached the landing where Riggs was pacing back and forth in front of my door.

“What’re you doing?” I asked, scratching the scruff that lined my jaw. He lifted his head and his eyes narrowed as he studied me.

I could only imagine what I looked like.

“Man,” he hissed. “What the f*ck happened?”

“Get out of my way,” I ordered.

“You look like you fell off the wagon,” he commented.

He should only know.

“What are you my sponsor now?” I dropped my duffel bag on the floor, shrugged my jacket off and viciously rolled up my sleeves, turning my forearms up. “Not a f*cking mark. Now get the f*ck out of my way Riggs,” I growled.

“Black, I’m just concerned is all,” he said, pulling off his baseball hat and scratching his head.

“Appreciate it but I’m not your f*cking problem,” I argued.

“Speaking of problems,” he started.

“What?”

“You have a visitor,” he said, glancing over his shoulder at the door. “Bones thinks she came by so I could help her fix her laptop.”

“Yeah? And how’d she get in my room?”

“Pop-A-Lock?” he suggested.

I glared at him with my dry eyes that burned like a motherf*cker. Did he expect me to believe she called a f*cking locksmith, and he wasn’t the one who let Lacey inside my room? This kid was a character, bitchin’ about getting mixed up with me and Lacey but then he picks my f*cking lock and covers for her.

Idiot.

“Thanks,” I muttered as he stepped aside, allowing me room to open the door. He patted me on the back as I drew in a ragged breath and watched him walk down the hallway.

I opened the door and was greeted by the most beautiful sight I had ever seen.

I guess the devil wanted to f*ck me a little harder, sharpen the blade before he twisted it deeper.

Lacey was sitting on my bed with her bare legs crossed, wearing nothing but one of my black t-shirts. She turned her head, brushed her long wavy hair away from her face as she smiled sheepishly at me.

“Welcome home,” she started.

I didn’t respond as I kicked the door closed and dropped my bag on the floor. I didn’t bother to brush away my hair that fell wildly around my face, hiding my bloodshot eyes.

“Black— “

I cut her off, lifting my finger to my lips to silence her as I started for the bed.

For her.

I shut my mind off.

And motherf*cked Boots all the way to his grave as my knees hit the edge of the bed and I watched her crawl toward me.

I wanted to do the right thing but everything in my being told me this…her and me, we were the right thing.

We were everything.

I reached for her, taking one hand and draped it around my neck before taking the other and doing the same. Then I let my hands travel down her sides, gripped her hips and tugged her body tightly against mine.

I hoped my actions conveyed my feelings because I couldn’t bring myself to say the words. Not when I’d have to take them back.

I dipped my head, shaking my hair away from my face pressing my cheek against hers, taking in the intoxicating scent of her perfume. My mouth moved along her jaw, teasing her chin before finding her lips.

It started off slow, just lips touching lips, until we both realized that didn’t even scratch the surface of what we needed from one another.

Bruised.