Page 77 of Deliverance

I soften slightly as I turn to Liam.

“I’m just worried about you. She’s a master manipulator. The way she is obviously playing Asher, then dragging you into it.”

“How about you stop talking about things you know nothing about and go back to your lunch?” Skyla snaps.

My eyes shoot to her, anger thrumming in my veins.

“How about you stop whoring yourself around my school and go back to where you came from?” I snarl before winding my arm back and cracking my hand against her cheek.

I’m proud of how hard her head whips to the side. My hand stings from the impact, but her quickly reddening face makes it oh so worth it.

In the next second, I feel a body rush me from behind, grabbing the hand that slapped Skyla and reaching for Maggie’s silver fork before plunging it into the back of my hand. White hot pain sears through me as I screech. I reflexively try to pull my hand away, but it’s embedded deep into the table. I look down in horror as shock floods my body. Blood begins pouring around the fork; my hand feels like it has its own heartbeat, and I wail and shout as the pain sets in. Maggie’s panicked eyes come to mine as she looks to Asher like he’s going to come for her next.

Asher jumps up onto the table, jostling the fork and forcing another scream to rip out of me.

“I thought that we had learned this lesson a while ago, at this very table no less, but perhaps we need a refresher. Skyla is off-limits, period. You will not whisper about her, you will not glare at her and you will most definitely not put hands on her,” he shouts, trailing his eyes down to me for that last part. The pure venom in his eyes has me shrinking in place. I feel like dirt beneath his glare, worse even.

“The next person that even breathes my wife’s name, will be leaving this school in a body bag. Clear?” Asher continues.

That has the entire room silent. His wife? They got married? When? He…it’s over. He’s married. I lost my chance.

“I said CLEAR?!” Asher snarls.

“Yes!” the room answers in unison.

“Better,” he says. “One more thing, you would all do well to keep my bond brother’s name out of your fucking mouths as well. Anymore bullshit fucking rumors about my wife, or my brother being unfaithful to me, and you will receive the same treatment,” he says, stomping his foot near my hand to shake the table once more.

A sob rips through me as the searing pain rips through my hand and touches every single nerve of my body.

“You okay?” he asks as he tenderly cups Skyla’s cheek, Liam right there with her. “C’mon, let’s go,” they say, rushing her out of here like the princess she is while my hand is fucking impaled!

Chapter Twenty Eight

Maggie

Asher and Liam are quick to usher Skyla out of the room, but I can’t sit still any longer. I rush over to Bridgette.

“Baby,” I slip. “Are you okay?” I ask as my panicked eyes flick over her tear-streaked face before down to her hand.

“No, I’m not fucking okay,” Bridgette sobs. “It hurts so bad!”

My heart aches seeing her in pain. “We have to get it out and get you to the nurse.”

She shakes her head. “No, no. I don’t want to take it out. I don’t want to,” she whimpers.

I look around to see almost everyone has gone about their business now that the king and queen have left. I can’t believe Asher let it drop that they got married already. I mean, married is a loose term for what happened.

Leaning my mouth to her ear to keep our conversation private, I whisper.

“I know, baby. I know. You have to trust me. Let me help you. Let me make it better. Please,” I beg, my voice catching on that last word.

Her shimmering blue eyes meet mine, so much raw pain and agony in them that it damn near brings me to my knees. I nod my head encouragingly as I run my fingers through her hair, petting her hair soothingly the way she loves.

I keep my eyes on hers, continuing to calm her as I yank the fork out with my other hand.

A scream that almost doesn’t even sound human erupts from her as I grab a wad of napkins, wrapping her hand in them. My eyes lift once more, catching Skyla’s. Fuck. I thought she left by now. Her eyes widen in understanding as they take in Bridgette and I, like the last piece of a puzzle clicking in place. Well, guess our little summer secret is out. At least with Skyla. Not that she would tell a soul. I don’t miss the look of hurt on her face, though, before the guys rush her out of the building. Fuck me.

Looking down, I already notice that Bridgette’s hand is soaking through the wad of napkins, and I pull her with me, hurrying us to the clinic we have on campus.