Warped Minds (Boys of Briar Hall, #4)

by Elena Lawson

I lit a cigarette, putting it to my lips as I strode closer to the door, trying to listen to what was happening inside.

You can’t smoke in here, Rook,” Grey said, covering the receiver with his palm. “It’s a fucking hospital.”

I lifted a brow at him, ashing on the floor. “Watch me.”

“You can’t do this to yourself,” I whispered. “I won’t let you.”

I opened my fist, looking down at the repulsive shining ball in the center of my palm, looking up at him.

Before I could drop it to the floor and stomp on it, Rook plucked it from my palm and did just that, grinding it under the toe of his black boot. “I...

He reached into his jacket and grabbed the pack of cigarettes there, offering them to me along with a small metal fla...

“I don’t need any of it. Take it. I just…” His Ada...

“I just need you, Ghost. I can’t do this...

“Do w...

“Any of it. It’s like I’ve been living in the dark, buried six fucking feet ...

“It’s like I can finally breathe. Finally feel the sun. I couldn’t go back. I can’t go back. Not now that I know what this feels like. So take it. Take i...

“I don’t want you to change for me, Rook.”

“Don’t brighten your darkness or blunt your edges for anyone. You’re perfect the way you are.”

“But if you ever touch that shit again, I will fucking destroy you.”

“Mmmm,” he purred, and a gear shifted between us. “Is that a promise?” “I’m not fucking around.”

“You can hate me for as long as you want, Sparrow, but I’m not going anywhere. You’re it for me. And I’m going to make you believe it.”

“It’s going to be fine.”

“How do you know?”

“Because we’ve all faced wicked trials and twisted games, Ghost. We’ve survived the ugly and made a home in the darkness. We can handle ...

“I swear to you,” he whispered in my ear. “You will never have to endure anything like that again. Not while I’m still breathing.”

“I’ll cut anyone who looks at you sideways, Ghost. Promise.” “How do you always do that?” “Do what?”

“Read my mind.”

“Because it’s the same as mine.”

Heads turned as we entered and some guy in the back lifted his pint, letting out a loud woop! Others followed his example until Sanctum echoed with the raucous cheers of everyone in the bar.

I dipped my head, shrinking behind Corvus for him to enjoy his welcome home

“What are you doing, AJ?” Grey asked, gently tugging my elbow, guiding me ...

they weren’t looking at Corvus as they clapped and jeered, sloshing beer over the floor as they raised their ...

“Welcome back, Ava Jade,” Pink...

“A-va Jade,” Vance called from his wheelchair, turning my name into a chant that others soon joined. “A-va Jade, A-va Jade, A-va Jade.”

My gaze caught on a familiar pair of steel blue eyes watching me

I’d never seen them like they were now. Crinkled at the edges, pulled taut from how he was smiling around t...

Diesel stood from the stool, clapping with the others in t...

I whirled on my guys, who’d joined the chant with the others. So much pride in their eyes.

“What is this?” “This is for you, Ghost,” Rook answered, his black eyes glittering in the light. “Welcome home.”

I didn’t know what to say, but I was hella fucking shocked when he pulled me in for a hug.

“Damn, kid,” Pinkie said. “I already knew you were a badass, but…” he trailed off, shaking his head. “I don’t think there’s another girl on this planet better suited for our Crows. Isn’t that right, boys?”

“You know it, Pinkie—”

“Boy, if you call me Pinkie Pie one more time, I swear to god—”

I lau...

“Oh, you think that shit’s funny, do you?” Pinkie challenged, fixing ...

“Fucking hilarious,” I corrected him. “I wish I’d ...

First thing’s first,” Diesel said, passing Corvus something. Whatever it was clinked familiarly as Corvus unwrapped it,

he laid the cloth wrapped bundle on the table in front of me. “You might be needing these.”

He threw back the last bit of cloth to reveal my blades. No, not just my blades. There were others, too.

The blue-eyed crow-handled blade Corvus gave me seemed to have spawned two more. One with a golden eye, and another with an onyx one. That crow had flames ...

Here,” Corvus said, seeming to pull a fistful of black straps and holsters from out of nowhere. “There’s two for your belt. Two for your thighs. One for your ankle and a dual chest strap. I wasn’t sure what you’d prefer.”

You should grovel more often,” I muttered for his ears only

“You don’t have to do that.”

Do what?”