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You will be slapped in the face with a brick of dark romance by the halfway point. Enjoy x
“Let yourself grieve and then find happiness.”
Having a surgeon for a brother is useful, especially when your hobbies include bare-knuckle fights and underground cages.
He has no idea what it’s like to live inside my brain. It’s like a squirrel on crack lives in there—every hour of every day—frantically running from one idea to another. It’s exhausting.
Conan has always intrigued me. I guess now’s finally the time I get to meet him.
“Put your weight on your good leg and let me help you,” she says, soft but firm. Sweet as fucking sugar, and just as addictive.
“What? Never seen a woman drive a powerful car before?” she snaps, eyes on the road. Feisty. “No, darlin’. I’m not judging. I’m admiring.”
“Good boy.” My eyes snap open. Blood rushes south. “Am I?” I smirk. “Do I get a reward, Nurse Hallie?” Her cheeks flush. “I might have some stickers somewhere.”
“Good boy. You’re all done.” I swear he growls under his breath, and I squeeze my thighs.
“Yeah, just looking at your ink. You’ve got a ton of it.” “I must like pain.” He flashed me a cheeky grin. “Physical is sometimes better than mental.”
“Okay. Picture this. We crash through the door, your legs wrapped around my waist. We’re tearing each other’s clothes off. I’m kissing the life out of you. You’re moaning in my mouth. We ignore him and his pathetic performance. We give them something to watch that’s far more exciting. Show him you do it better.”
“Hallie. I’m damn sure any man that walks this earth would never, ever turn down a kiss from you.” Her cheeks heat and she goes to turn away, but instead I grip her chin to keep her eyes on me. “It’s your turn to be a good girl and show this scumbag that he ain’t shit. Fuck him for disrespecting you.”
I gasp, our noses brushing. I can’t fucking breathe. All I hear is the blood pounding in my ears, everything else fading—even the stars. All I can see are those green eyes. “Kiss me, trouble.”
I’m supposed to hate the male species. But Conan? He’s doing a damn good job redeeming the entire population. He’s sweet. Dangerous. And so fucking hot I can’t think straight.
“He’s back with my car now. Come over tomorrow night.” “Oh, I will be there. Don’t do anything I wouldn’t do.” “So that’s essentially do anything I want.” “Love you,” she whispers, giggling. “Love you too.”
“W-what do they say?” I whisper. “Once you get a taste of the Irish, ya never go back.”
“Yes, darlin’. I’m the fun Quinn. I’ll get you into trouble and back out of it all in one night.” I believe him. He’s lightning in a bottle, wild and untouchable, but if you cross him, it’s game over.
Feral. That’s the only word for the way he looks at me. Whatever leash he had on himself? Gone.
“Come back to me, trouble. Fuck what Ben said. Fuck anyone who has ever made you doubt yourself. They ain’t worth it. You are so much more than they could ever be. You, Hallie, are a badass. You’re funny. You have impeccable taste in cars. You’re kind and caring. You are drop-dead fucking gorgeous. You made me hard while sticking a needle in my leg. You made me hard when you giggled. Do you need me to continue the list? Or can I just fuckin' kiss you now, for real this time?”
“Or do you want me to be a good boy and get down on my knees and beg for you?”
This world has fucked up everything for women. Taught them shame. Like they’re not allowed to want things. Need things. Like pleasure should only ever be a reward, never a right. Bullshit.
“Get on those knees then, beastie.” Fuck. My heart damn near breaks through my ribs.
Shit. Shit. Shit. I should’ve just let her go. But I swear I felt something. That spark my mom used to talk about. The one that tells you she’s it. The one. I wasn’t even looking.
“You don’t let the devil in the door, Con.”
“Right. Staying on the right side of the law. How many people have you killed since James? Outside of the cage?” I smirk. “Still less than you, psycho.” “That’s not a brag, Conan.”
Did I just claim him in front of a room full of women by full-on ass-grabbing my not-even-boyfriend? Yes. Yes, I fucking did. Maybe I should try therapy instead of group fitness next time.
“I thought bossy Hallie was my favorite. But jealous Hallie, claiming me in front of a group of women? That takes the prize.”
“Hide what? Bodies?” He shifts his weight, gaze flickering away. “You don’t wanna know the skeletons I have hiding.”
I didn’t even realize I needed someone to catch me when I was falling. And then Conan crashes into my life. Making me see how fucking miserable I am, dragging myself through life. The spark I lost seems to ignite again when I’m around him.
There’s so much more to Hallie. She’s brilliant. Smart. Funny. Sassy. Bossy. She lights up a room. She makes my mind quiet.
I don’t know what this is between us. But I know one thing. Around her, it’s calm.
I thought I could outrun the past. But if it catches me, I’ll kill it again.
“I give it a week.” I tilt my head. “A week?” “Yeah. Until you two finally bang.” I glance around before muttering, “Lily, I think he will literally ruin me.” She spits out her drink, laughing.
“Does he look at you like he’d burn the city to the ground for one smile?” I bite the inside of my cheek. “I think so.” I know so.
That’s half my issue. My brain never stops. Sometimes it’s amazing. I can juggle a million things at once, ace anything academic, and dive into any creative pursuit. But the other side? Perfectionism. Self-doubt. Constant overthinking. I’ll talk myself out of something before I even give it a chance. ADHD is like that. It’s my sparkle, but sometimes, it dims everything else if I let it.
“I said watch out for her, not fall in love.” I release him. “That isn’t—” He cuts me off. “I see everything.”
Just as Finn comes out of his and calls for Mrs. Ellen Maple. We lock eyes, and he glares, then switches to a smile for his patient. Fucking psycho.
“Let me guess—Conan?” “Yeah,” he huffs. “He’s at my workplace far too much, Hallie.” “I can’t stop him.” “Oh, I know. Once he sets his sights on something, you’re screwed.”
Trouble Okay, it’s a deal. One more night. I chuckle to myself. One more night? As if.
“Just make sure my face isn’t too swollen. I’ve got a date,” I tell them, and they all smirk. “Another fighter lost to a woman, ey?” Grayson asks. “Maybe. I kind of hope so.” Jax taps me on the shoulder. “It’s the best loss you’ll ever have.”
“You told Hallie I’d kill her?” Of all the things I want to do to her, killing isn’t on the list. Punishing her? That’s climbed to the top three.
“What the fuck? No! I couldn’t give a shit about a bit of metal. You, Hallie. I’m worried about you.”
“I’d give up every single car I own in a heartbeat if it was a choice between you and them. Hell, I’d give up everything. You just need more practice in the McLaren before you race again. And I would never dream of taking your Shelby from you in return.”
“You did good, trouble. I’m proud of you.”
“Are you scared of me?” he growls. “Or scared of what you feel for me? Because you know damn well I’d never hurt you. Does it matter who they think I am? The only version of me that matters, is the one I am with you.”
I don’t know what this thing is between us. But I know one thing—being just friends isn’t going to cut it.
“If you want to just be my friend, maybe don’t call me baby. Or darlin’. Or trouble.” He chuckles low. “Darlin’, you have no idea. But I think we’re on the same page about one thing.” “What’s that?” “That being friends ain’t enough.”
Too perfect to just be my friend. But if I let her in, I might never let her go.
Feral. Just how I fucking wanted her. But I’ve got her. I’ve always got her.
So I’ll do anything possible to keep her beside me. I pull back and study her eyes. My mom always said they’re the gateway to the soul. And when I look into hers, I feel that.
