The Summer King Bundle 3 Stories - Jennifer L. Armentrout Page 0,5

When she didn’t answer, I forced my eyes open again. “She’s… she’s gone?”

Ivy pressed her lips together as she nodded jerkily. “I’m sorry. I’m so sorry, Bri.”

My gaze dropped to where Ivy held my hand. Instead of seeing her hand, I saw my mother’s blood-soaked one squeezing mine. I saw it slip from my grasp as I felt the strength seep out of her.

“They made several hits, all across the city,” Ivy was saying, curling her other hand around mine, clasping it between her two palms. “That’s why Gerry didn’t show up for his shift. Ren and I found him. That’s when we knew.” Her voice turned hoarse as she started naming names—names of those killed and there were so many, an endless stream. “They must’ve been watching us. They knew where to go. So much violence, all in one night.”

Ivy dropped her forehead to her hands. I didn’t see her, though. I saw the five faces. I remembered their faces. I would always remember their faces.

“You’re going to be okay. The doc says it’s a freaking miracle, but you’re going to be okay,” she said. “They’ll probably keep you for a couple more days, but then you can come home with me, if you want. Tink said you can take his bedroom—”

“I… I couldn’t stop them.”

“What?” Ivy lifted her head. Her eyes were glassy.

“I… I couldn’t fight them off.”

She slowly shook her head. “Bri, you were hunted down and—”

“I couldn’t stop them!” The shout tore at my raw throat, but I didn’t care. “They killed my mother and I couldn’t stop them!”

“No.” Ivy rose, leaning over the head of the bed so her face was right in mine. “I know what you’re thinking. Trust me, I know. This is not your fault. I would’ve been screwed if I was caught off guard and surrounded like that.”

I didn’t think that was the case. Ivy would’ve fought tooth and nail. She wouldn’t have panicked and flailed. She wouldn’t have let them get her on her back, the number one thing they taught you to never let happen in training. Ivy might’ve struggled, but she would’ve prevailed.

“What they did to your mom and you is on them.” Ivy placed the tips of her fingers against my cheek. The touch was light, as if she knew if she pressed too hard, it would hurt. “There was nothing you could’ve done, Bri. Nothing. You survived. That’s all that matters. And it’s going to be okay. Everything is going to be okay.”

As I stared at her, remembering what I’d said to Mom, and knowing that it had been a lie, I knew that this also wasn’t true. That wasn’t all that mattered and it wasn’t going to be okay.

Things were never going to be okay.

Chapter 3

Two years later….

The heavy, rhythmic beat thumped from the speakers above and flowed over the packed floor. Gleaming bodies twisted and churned under the flashing overhead lights, lost to the music and the press of flesh against flesh. The scent of perfume, cologne, and sweat turned my stomach as I lifted my hands, scooping the long strands of hair off my damp neck.

Tonight I was a wild redhead with bright, red lips.

Last night I’d been a raven-haired seductress with smokey eyes.

The past weekend I was a naïve blonde in pigtails with flushed, peachy cheeks.

Each time I was someone different, but I was always the perfect victim, and every night ended the same.

I swayed my hips to the beat, to the hard, warm body behind me as I scanned the dance floor, searching.

Hands moved over the silvery sequins of my dress, slipping over my stomach. He hauled me against him, pressing his front to my back.

He was really into this.

A lot.

Those questing hands dragged down my hips, inching closer to my outer thighs. Letting go of the hair, I caught his wrists and tossed a reckless grin over my shoulder. “Behave.”

The nameless man gave me a toothy smile. He was cute, definitely younger than me by a good decade and some change. Probably in college at Loyola or Tulane, which meant two things. He’d choke if he knew I was pushing thirty-one and this was the last place he should be. A tiny part of me wanted to warn him, to tell him to find his fun and pleasure anyplace but the club Flux.

But I wasn’t here for him.

Holding onto his wrists, I let my head fall back against his chest as my gaze flickered over the dance floor and the