Page 92 of Iris' Lying Eyes
Blinking, I say softly, “I’m used to punishment, Bastion. You want to whip me? Okay. Or we could play the master/slave game. How about injecting me with drugs until I can’t see straight? Or my favorite, let’s threaten everyone I love until I suck your dick without biting it off. Oh right, we’ve already played that game.”
Bastion meets my stone-cold gaze with wide eyes before he frowns and looks away. Cyn grunts. Jig nods, sharing a bro message I can’t decipher.
The car shakes as Cyn settles in his seat before he puts the car in gear, and I sag against the leather. It’s gonna be a long-ass drive with three people who fucking hate me.
Chapter Nineteen
For the first two hours, Bastion is so tense, I can physically feel the vibration. Finally, he leans his head against the window and closes his eyes.
Exhaling quietly, I watch the scenery fly by. I know he’s hurting. In a rare moment between us when we were still stupid kids, he spoke of his mother once.
Although his tone was matter-of-fact when he admitted she was a drug addict, his eyes shone with an emotion I recognized. We all want to love our parents, even when they’re fucked up. I guess B never got over that particular need, even knowing that whoever gave her that drug, she still chose to take it.
I hope. I guess Roman could’ve forced it on her. Ugh.
After a long haul in which it’s disturbingly quiet, even Jig close-mouthed, we slow, and I glance up.
“Pit stop,” Jig murmurs as we take a right into a gas station.
The red neon lights shine brightly, signifying the end of another day. Will I live to see tomorrow?
Cyn stops beside the pumps, and I glance over the lot, staring at a woman exiting the store with her hand on a little boy. He waves his arms in the air, a wide grin overtaking his face. The innocence behind that gesture tugs at my heart, and I look away, thoughts of Sam pulling at my vision.
Wherever he is, I hope he’s safe and that someone is giving him the attention and love he deserves. Nothing else matters but the innocent.
“Promise me,” I whisper, and Jig turns his head while Cyn meets my gaze in the mirror. “Whatever happens, Sam, he’s good. Please, promise me.”
Cyn grimaces, and Jig looks away.
“What?” I ask, grabbing the back of the seat.
When neither bothers to respond, Bastion says gruffly, “You want the boy safe, give me Liberty.”
“Do you know her?” I ask, whipping around. Does he? Has he met her? Stared into her pretty eyes? Coveted her beauty? Is that what this is about?
My veins burn at the thought, but I shove it away as Bastion searches my gaze before his mouth curls in a cruel grin. “Jealous?”
At this point, I’d rather die than show this dick any emotion, and glancing at my cuticles, I say, “She’s as ruined as the rest of us, B. A mirage. If you want that water so badly, go for it, but you’ll still be thirsty in the end.”
I feel no victory when Bastion grunts and shoves the door open. We all watch as he stalks away before Cyn gets out on his side and rounds the vehicle.
While he’s filling the tank, I rub my forehead. I have no idea what we’re walking into, but the lies are catching up with me now. What will Bastion do? What will they all do?
“What happened?” Jig asks.
“When?” Not a stupid question considering all the shit that’s gone down, which is why I give him a dirty glare when he huffs.
“Really? He’s like a fucking live wire.”
Eyeing him, I ask, “He didn’t tell you?”
Jig leans over the seat, and I sigh when I meet his fierce glare. Demanding fucker.
“Roman happened. I told him . . . I told all of you, but you didn’t listen. You’re messing with shit that can’t be undone. They’ll search out the thing you love the most and destroy it.”
“Roman? What the fuck? Why?”
Glancing away, I clench my jaw until Jig raises a brow. “They?”