Marked By Pain (The Marked #2)(17)

“I'm fine. I just needed to get out of there before I really did set her on fire. I can't believe she's Mr Daniels’ sister, they're so different.”

“She was always a little evil and out of control, but coming here really changed her. Your father changed her,” he says, reaching for my hand and pulling me to stop.

“So you're saying it's his fault, and she's a victim?” I ask, raising an eyebrow at him in question.

“Definitely not, I'm just telling you how she got the way she is. No matter what she's done, she's still his sister, and he wants to save her. Don't tell me you wouldn't do the same thing for Ryan,” Enzo whispers.

“Ryan can still be saved, I know he can. He's not bad inside, but that woman is. She's got issues of the major kind, Enzo. They're not comparable.”

“I think they're more alike than you'd care to admit,” he comments.

“They're not. At least, I hope they aren't,” I reply tightly. He wraps an arm around my waist and pulls me close.

“How about we take your mind off her and your brother for a little while?” he suggests in a low voice, making me shiver.

“What did you have in mind?” I ask, feeling a little breathless.

“Something a little like this...” he trails off, leaning down and locking his lips with mine. His hands grip my waist tightly as he kisses me, and he bites my lower lip, making me gasp from the shock of the sensation. He deepens the kiss, our tongues intertwining as he holds me close to him, and when he pulls away, I wish he didn't.

“I better stop now, before I can't,” he whispers begrudgingly.

“What if I don't want you to?” the words slip out of my mouth before I can stop them.

“Well, then I'd at least suggest we find somewhere more private,” he teases, gesturing around us, to the fact that we're in the middle of the open space in the compound, and there are guards watching us. I feel the heat creep into my cheeks.

“Yeah, maybe not right here,” I reply, choking out a laugh.

“I have a surprise for you anyway, come with me,” he says, tugging me with him. I follow after him, and he leads me to the block where I know East is being kept. He scans an access card on the door. An access card that certainly doesn't have his name.

“You stole that?” I ask quietly, not wanting to be overheard.

“I borrowed it. There's definitely a difference,” he says lightly, making me laugh.

“Sure there is, thank you,” I say, giving him a quick kiss.

“I figured you'd like to see East without the feeling of eyes watching you. They're so sure of the main grounds’ security, there's nobody in here watching him at night. Just need the right access to get in and out. They figure even if he did manage to somehow escape this building, he'd never make it past the outside wall.”

“Seems a little stupid to me,” I comment as we walk down the corridor.

“It is. That's why Daniels suggested it,” Enzo says, grinning. We stop outside the door and Enzo scans the card, unlocking it as the light flashes green. He hands me the card and turns away.

“Aren't you coming in?” I ask him, and he shakes his head.

“No, I thought you guys would like some privacy. I'll need that card back in the morning though, and you need to leave here before 6am, 5:30 to be extra careful,” he says. I nod and head for the door to East's cell. I pause and turn back to Enzo.

“Thank you, you didn't have to do this,” I say.

“I know, but I also know it would make you happy, Crowe, and I've decided I like how happy looks on you,” he smiles, none of his usual sarcasm or snark is in his tone.

I give him one last smile, and push open the door to the cell, stepping in and closing it behind me.





Chapter 9





Mackenzie





“Kenzie,” East says, clearly surprised, as I walk across the room to him.

“Hey, East,” I say quietly, as I pause standing by the bed. His eyes travel down me from head to toe and back up again, lingering on some places more than others.

“You look amazing, that dress is... wow,” he mutters, standing up and pulling me to him, his hands resting firmly on my hips.

“This old thing?” I comment sarcastically. “Well, you always look 'wow', so I just had to somehow compare for once,” I say, smirking at him, feeling happy at the effect my appearance is having on him.

“Compare? You always outshine me, Kenz,” he whispers.

“So fucking corny,” I mutter.

“Only for you,” he says, winking at me and making me laugh. He rests a hand on my cheek. “How did I miss how fucking amazing you are for so long? How could I have ever just thought of you as Ryan's little sister?” he asks.

“I don't know. I never thought of you as just Ryan's best friend,” I admit, moving my hands up his shirt and running them across his toned stomach.

“Fuck, I think this is way too much talk about your brother,” he growls, leaning down and kissing my jawline, and down to my neck. I moan as his lips find the sweet spot between my neck and shoulder, that damn spot is the undoing of me. I don’t know how he knows it, but he does, nipping it with his teeth.