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Tris stalked past the two of us, shaking her head, her disappointment evident in the slump of her shoulders. This time I wasn’t leaving her to deal with the emotional fallout of a situation alone. I wasn’t forcing her to make a choice between me and Peter. If I wanted to earn her trust and prove my love for her was real and not payback, it was time to show her I meant it.
Only now, I realized with a sinking feeling, we both might have driven her away for good.
Chapter Thirty-Three
TRISSA
Killian quickened his stride to fall into step beside me. “Tink?—”
“Don’t talk to me,” I hissed.
“You can be mad all you want, but I won’t let you push me away.” He reached for me, then hesitated, pulling his hand back.
Smart man. I was furious at the two of them.
Jareth led us to his office. I sat rigidly in a seat facing his large wooden desk. My heart was still racing from what I’d just witnessed. The image of Killian and Peter being pulled apart, bloody and disheveled, was playing on repeat in my mind.
How had it come to this?
Neither Peter nor Killian chose to sit. Instead, they stood on either side of me. I said nothing when they shifted the seat next to me out of the way. These two assholes weren’t giving an inch and were likely still posturing like two teenage boys.
“What in the absolute fuck was that about?” Jareth’s controlled tone was scarier than if he yelled.
The office door eased open with a soft click. “Can I get anyone a drink? Or maybe an ice pack?” Hazel asked with asympathetic grin, giving us a short reprieve. “Today just got far more exciting than I was expecting.”
“We’re fine.” Jareth’s voice softened.
It was amazing to see how he could switch from an expression that chilled me from the inside out to this gentler version of himself around Hazel.
“He’s all bark and mostly no bite.” Hazel assured us with a wink.
I bit my lip to hide a grin. She was likely the only one who thought that.
A long suffering sigh escaped Jareth’s mouth. “Please?—”
She waved her hands. “I know. I’ll leave you all alone. Let me know if you need anything.”
“We’re fine. Show Wendy in when she gets here.” He paused and then tacked on, “Please.”
The second Jareth turned his attention back to us, his expression hardened, and he once again became the ruthless businessman. He steepled his fingers and fixed his unwavering gaze on the three of us like we were three naughty children he needed to reprimand.
And he wouldn’t be totally wrong. I should’ve dealt with Peter before now. And those two idiots should’ve kept their hands to themselves.
The silence stretched. He wanted to see who would break first. I shifted in my seat, bouncing my knee. Jareth’s intimidation tactic was working beautifully on me. I couldn’t bear the silence any longer. “Jareth?—”
“I’m not looking to hear from you, Trissa,” he said, his voice unnervingly quiet.
I snapped my mouth shut.
Peter shifted beside me, and Jareth’s attention snapped to him instantly. “Something to add, Mr. Young?”
I held my breath, silently willing Peter to shut his mouth. For once, he did.
“I pulled you from a company that was ready to drop you, Peter,” Jareth continued. “Killian, we’ve worked with you for years, giving you opportunities most people would kill for. And this is how you both repay those investments?”
“It won’t happen again,” Killian said from my other side.
“Then explain why I had to rush security guards upstairs for what looked like a playground brawl.”