Page 5

Don’t say it. Please don’t, I beg.
It’s with his heavy gaze on mine that my dad looks to me. There’s confusion, but then again, he knows these guys and understands they could be fighting over who spilt the other’s drink. You really never know.
Roan’s death glare curves to Tiller. “You ever touch her again, I’ll cut your goddamn dick off,” Roan growls, pushing past him.
I’m thankful he doesn’t say my name in front of my dad, but do you see the way my dad’s eyes slide to mine? Maybe he knows. Maybe he’s selectively blind to what really goes on in this house. I don’t know. What I’m concerned about is them not telling him.
I glance at Roan, then Tiller, my eyes narrowing.
Tiller laughs, brushing his hand over his bleeding lip. Roan’s warning means nothing to him. “Go ahead,” Tiller mumbles, sitting up with a grunt. “You’d probably be doing me a favor.”
Roan steps toward me and snaps his head toward the kitchen. My startled gaze lands on my dad but he’s busy with Tiller. “You good?” he asks him, handing him a towel.
Tiller sweeps his tongue over his bleeding lip. “Oh please, bitches do more damage than him.”
Rolling my eyes, I sneak out of the den and into the kitchen where I find Roan and a bottle of alcohol next to him. Usually their house is filled with at least fifty people, but for once, we find ourselves alone, though I know it’ll be short-lived.
Standing face-to-face, my tears surfacing, his anger bubbles over the edge. “Should I fuck him out of you?” he taunts with a smirk; it’s evil and condescending. “You’dneverbe the same.”
Five weeks ago, I was a virgin begging this guy to take it from me and show me he loved me. He refused, told me to promise him I’d stay this way, untouched as he left me. A week later, he slept with someone else when he was in Athens. Two weeks ago, I decided to get my revenge, unaware of the consequences and what it’d mean. Now I know it’s the end because two people who love each other, they don’t do this to one another.
I blink, trying to focus. My face heats and I bite my lip. I back up like a frightened animal, shaking my head. “Don’ttouch me. You’ve lost your damn mind.”
“Yeah, well…” He snorts and runs his hand through his wavy dark hair, leaning back against the counter. He cocks an eyebrow. “I thought I told you to fucking leave.”
Our eyes lock. Hurt, betrayal, love, it’s all there, each emotion playing a role in our destruction of whatever we could have had five weeks ago. “If I leave, I’m never coming back.”
You shouldn’t have said that.
He shakes his head, his right eye swelling. “One could hope, right?”
“I really can’t believe you’re acting this way,” I whisper, trying to keep my voice down. I reach for my bag I tossed on the floor earlier when I came into the house, searching for answers. And I always leave here with a thousand more.
He gazes at me, his expression unreadable. “You expected something else?”
I don’t say another word, because Roanalwayshas to have the last word. You get nowhere arguing with him.
I leave.
He says nothing to me, his eyes on his phone and the substance he’s turning to in his hand.
In the driveway, my dad finds me.
Shit. I watch him walk toward me, the portrayal of intimidation something he wears well.
If I wanted to see my dad, I had to go to the Sawyer mansion, which meant growing up, I spent a lot of time here. Being the head of their security, it requires him to be with them the majority of the time. My parents’ marriage because of it? Rocky. I’m sure you can imagine why. Believe me when I say the Sawyer brothers are a lot to handle, regardless of who you are to them. Even their house cleaners probably go to therapy after dealing with them on a daily basis.
You know that quote by Shakespeare? Hell is empty and all the devils are here.
I’m pretty sure he was referring to the Sawyer brothers.
My dad leans into the open window of my car. “I didn’t know you stopped by?”
“I came to say hi, but then the guys were fighting. As usual,” I lie. “Tried to break it up.”
Nodding, he straightens up and smiles. “I better get back inside before they kill each other. I leave for LA with Roan in about an hour.”
I snort, tears held at bay. Roan wouldn’t say anything to him, would he? “Yeah, probably. I’ll see you around.”