Sinners' Playground (The Harlequin Crew, #1)

by Caroline Peckham

He’d buried me in a shallow grave wrapped in a fucking potato sack.

I already know im gonna love her

Big girls don't cry and all that jazz. Or maybe broken girls didn't feel. And dead girls didn't hurt.

The gunman marched me across the street into an alley out of sight of any security cameras and I dropped my hands from the back of my head, glancing over my shoulder at him with a lopsided grin. “Hey brother.” “Let’s go, JJ,” Fox said firmly, lowering the gun and we started running side by side.

oh these little rats!!! i love them already

Fox tore his ski mask off and his floppy, dark blonde hair fell forward into his eyes. I shoved it out of his beautiful damn face and kissed him on the forehead, thumping my chest in excitement.

awwwhhhhhh

The sharks would destroy the dickless wonder by morning. Nom nom nom.

JJ 💀💀💀💀💀💀

“For every rule you break from here on out, I’ll break one of your fingers until you learn your lesson,” Fox warned him.

why's this kindaaaaa

came face to face with JJ Brooks who was grinning from ear to ear as he took me in. "Just like old times, eh Rogue?" he teased. "You never could skate for shit."

Because a real life incarnation of my deepest, most desperate desire was standing right there. Right in my house. My fucking breathing space. The girl I had longed for, ached for, hunted for, shattered for, was here. Impossibly. Fucking. Here.

I’m awake and she’s here. I’m awake and she’s back. I’m awake and she’s home.

😭😭😭😭😭

“Hi, Foxy boy,” she said at last, her voice husky and seductive, yet full of rejection and disinterest too. “You got taller.” “You got mouthier,” I tossed back, the edge to her voice making my dominant side rear up and take notice.

oh brother

“I did do that,” JJ said with a smirk, moving up against my other shoulder and resting his weight on me. “And I’d do it again. And again. And ag-” “Shut it,” I snarled and JJ fell quiet

he's a little shit

A part of me wanted to believe that this had somehow been an accident, because picturing some motherfucker with his hands wrapped around her throat was about to turn me into an even bigger serial killer than I already was.

acceptance is the first step

“I used to spend a lot of time thinking about what I’d do if you ever came back, Rogue. And the long and short of it is, baby, that I’m never letting you get away again.”

Her fist came at me and I refused to release her to block it, her knuckles slamming hard into my mouth. I tasted blood and anger rippled through me like thunder. “Shit Rogue, do you realise who he is these days?” JJ gasped just before I tore her away from him, tucking her under one arm and locking her to my side as I strode toward the house. “I’m getting the feeling he’s an asshole!” she called back to him, but I didn’t give a shit.

oh god

a lusty moan came from behind the door where JJ and that rich woman had disappeared to. "What are they-" "Don't worry about that. Mrs Broadale pays extra for additional services when she comes in here," Lucy explained, winking at me in the mirror as my brain scrambled to keep up with that.

I FORGOT HE WAS A PROSTITUTE

I'm Fox motherfucking Harlequin and if you don't start showing me some fucking respect, then you're going to end up seeing the man who everyone in this town fears."

zamn zaddy

"You gotta watch for this window," Joe said suddenly, making me shriek in alarm

i cackled this is so well written

"I'm not even sure he bleeds at all. The devil took that from him when he sold his soul."

why do i kinda like him tho

"Where is Mutt supposed to go on that?" I asked as Chase kicked his sneakers back on and shrugged into his shirt. I could have suggested we go and get Fox’s truck but I kinda liked the idea of it just sitting there in the street abandoned so I didn’t mention it. "He can just run along behind us," Chase said dismissively and I folded my arms in a refusal as Mutt started growling like he'd understood that. "No," I said firmly. "He's only little and it's too far."

she has a point

"Bobby Inflatable,"

GODDAMN IT JJ WHAT THE FUCK

"Hello, beautiful," he growled, his voice deep and dark and even more painful than I would have thought possible.

ITS MAVERICK

Ten men found dead with their dicks cut off because Fox Harlequin had blue balls.

honestly i wouldnt be shocked

"It's just a bit of fun, pretty girl. That's all I'm good for anyway. So don't beat yourself up about it. Okay?"

JJ 😭😭😭😭😭😭😭

I blurted the first thing that came to my head in an urgent whisper. “I’ve got the clap.” I’ve. Got. The. Clap.

WHAAATT ????? LMFAOOO

“Can you cancel my next appointment tonight. I’m not feeling so good.” “Oh no, is everything alright?” she asked. “I’ve got the clap,” I blurted. Again.

WHY IS THIS WHAT WE ARE STICKING WITH JJ

"Give the asshole a tip, Rogue," he added, glancing at me. "I suggest you stop being an asshole," I said to the dude who looked mildly tempted to piss his pants. "That's a damn good tip," Chase said, smirking at me before shoving the douchebag away from him hard enough to knock him on his ass in the sand.

LOVE THAT

Chase crashed into me, throwing his arms around me, smelling of the sea, his clothes dripping wet and his hair damp. “Fox, fuck, I couldn’t help her,” he croaked, clutching onto me and dread seeped through my blood.

this dirty fucking liar

“We got split up on the ferry. I had to hide, but I tried to search for her. I couldn’t find her. And when I did…they had her. The guards got her with the bag of watches. Fuck, I’m so sorry.”

DIRTY. FUCKING. LIAR.

"Hey, baby," he said, his voice cruel and taunting, lilting in a mockery of the way I'd answered his call the night I'd escaped his island.

I KNEW IT