"My name is Lily—and you have no idea what I'm capable of." I narrow my eyes.
Leo holds his hands up in surrender then swings his leg over his bike and pulls on his helmet.
"What is it you need help with?" Zane asks, licking his lips. My stomach dips, but it’s definitely for other reasons.
"Some trash needs taking out." I drop my gaze to the knife sheafed at my ankle and lift my pant leg.
He jerks his chin to my ass. "Milk?"
Rolling my eyes, I shake my head. "He was barely worth the effort of a hand-wound. Someone else. And I don't just want to harm them, I want them dead," I say in a hushed murmur, my teeth gritting.
"That is a dangerous favor to ask of someone, Lily—especially someone you don't know." He leans in close, whispering into my ear. "What makes you think I'm a killer?" He breathes out against my cheek, sending a wave of goosebumps across my skin.
I place a hand on his chest and take a chance. "Let's just say I recognize a kindred spirit." As crazy as it sounds, it's the truth. I'm a balloon tethered to a string, and he’s pulling me toward him. Part of me knows it's reckless, but I need this. His heartbeat thunders beneath my palm. He’s not unaffected by me.
"Get on." He nods to his bike before sweeping his leg over and waiting for me. I climb on behind him, clutching his waist, and pin my thighs to his. Adrenaline spikes through my veins as I glance back at my car. Jameson is going to bitch me out for disappearing, but I'm grown, and I need to do this.
The engine roars to life, vibrating beneath me, drawing a smile to my lips.
I need to face my demons and destroy them.
CHAPTERFIVE
ZANE/Chaos
Her thighs squeeze against mine, and a rush of hunger claws through my body. I've never put a woman on the back of my bike. I'm one of those assholes who fucks a willing woman at whichever bar I'm visiting that night, never even getting a name.
This is just me giving Lily a ride to Leo’s, but there's something I like about it. The warmth of her body covering mine…
I get the feeling she's hell fire and I'll be begging her to burn my soul.
Pulling into the drive, I park my bike next to the truck and wait for her to climb off.
The heat of her body leaves mine, and she stands there awkwardly, brushing her hair with her fingers.
"How's your ass?" Leo asks, walking past her up the steps to the front door.
"Tender." She smiles tightly and looks at me. "It was worth it. Milk is too handsy—and not just with me."
Climbing from my bike, my eyes drop to her ass encased in a pair of skin-tight jeans. "Sacrifice is necessary sometimes." I gesture to the house. "Come on."
Apprehension pinches her features. "We don't bite." I hold my hand out to her, and she lets out a breath, taking it. Once we reach the top step, she drops my hand and shoves hers into her jacket.
"Is it just you two who live here?" she asks as we enter the house. It's dull inside, the place untouched from when mom decorated it over twenty years ago. Leo throws himself on the old brown couch, the foam from inside showing through slits in the fabric. He rests his foot on the old, beaten-down coffee table covered in scratch marks and cup rings. Flower patterned carpet runs through the entire house, the pile worn down to almost nothing. It's a shit hole.
"This is Leo's place." I fucking hate being in this tomb.
"You don't live here?" She moves deeper into the house, cautious, a shiver racking her body.
"I stay here when he needs me to," I inform her. It's usually after he breaks up with whichever woman has become sick of his shit. My brother is bipolar and takes weeks off his meds, spiraling his moods. Mix that with his childhood trauma, night terrors, and paranoia, and you're left with someone highly dangerous to you and himself.
"I'm ordering pizza. Pepperoni good with you, Lily?" Leo calls out.
"Fine. Thanks." She folds her arms, trying not to touch anything. I should have taken her back to my place.
"Let's go in the other room and talk." I lead her through the kitchen into the dining room. She takes a seat at the table, wincing as she does. The table is the only thing Leo's bought for this house, barring his flat screen tv.
The floorboards above us creak, drawing Lily's attention. "Is there someone else here?"