Page 76 of Stolen Temptation

“No,” I snap. “Don’t be absurd.”

Whatever this is with Kiara isn’tlove,but that’s beside the point. I’m pissed about the principle of the matter, which Finn would understand if he would just pay attention to what I’m saying instead of digging around like a damn dog in the dirt for nonexistent subtext.

“Happened to me,” Finn taunts, somehow with a straight face. Even though it’s a ridiculous thing to throw at me.

He plucks at a nerve somewhere inside me. A nerve I’d forgotten I had.

“Well, I’m not you, am I?” My lower back is gridlock-tight.

Are we going to discuss how he’s been acting like an asshole ever since this whole war started? I’m just as stressed as the next guy, but I’m not going around harassing my friends about their sex lives.

Finn resets his jaw, his dark eyes steady on mine. “Good thing, seeing as how your taste in women leaves something to be desired.”

The floodgates of my self-restraint burst. “Fuck you.”

Shock widens his eyes before his mouth sets into a grim line. “Watch it, Rory. Whether we like it or not, we’re not equals anymore.”

Whenever I reach a certain level of angry, I start smiling. Just like I am now.

“Don’t kid yourself. We were never equals.” My smile widens, but I don’t laugh. My gut only becomes more acidic. “The rules don’t apply to you, Finn. They never have. You can screw or love whoever you want, regardless of the mission.”

“Don’ttalk about what happened with Riley.”

“The same way you didn’t talk to us about it?”

“If you keep this up, I swear I will pummel the absolute sh?—”

“None of us houndedyouwhen you two were fucking yourselves into an engagement.”

“That was different. Besides, this is no time to get weak over a woman?—”

“You’re a hypocrite! And so am I. Doing what we do never mattered before, but because it’s…”Her.

My own thought scares my mouth into snapping shut involuntarily. I’m so blindsided by it, I know I need to get the hell out of here and walk it off.

Before Ireallysnap.

“I’m only going to say this once.” Finn disturbs the silence with his gruff, sure voice. “Don’t get involved with that girl downstairs. She’s not yours to keep.” His tone darkens. “If my father tells you to slit her throat and mail her back to Leo one piece at a time, you’ll damn well do it.”

Desperation lashes me at the thought of hurting her. I clamp my teeth together to avoid an escalation.

“These are war times.” Finn lowers himself into the leather office chair behind his sprawling desk. “Go against the wishes of this family, and you’ll pay the price, Rory. Whether you’re my friend or not.”

There’s nothing else to say, and I can’t stay in here another second, so I spin around and stalk out of Finn Gallagher’s office.

One more word out of his mouth and punches would have been thrown.

Ten minutes later, I’m in one of the Audis we keep parked in the garage, speeding down the estate driveway and out into the Manhattan streets. I can’t remember the last time I ate. I’m so starving that it’s only dialed my rage up to twenty, but I can’t stop moving. I can’t slow down.

I don’t know what will happen to me if I slow down. What I might do.

Finn’s face keeps flashing behind my eyes.

Car horns blare at me as I run a red light, barrel through a crowded intersection onto the next block, and yank the steering wheel into a turn. The first parking spot I see is mine. I dive into it, doing a dangerous parallel park job that prompts pedestrians on the sidewalk to jump back.

I barely notice.

I’m a screwup. After what happened with Alayna, I know that. Everyone is better at choosing a partner than me.