Page 91 of Deliverance

“You don’t think that’s what’s happening, do you? I mean, you’ve been introduced to a lot of men at parties like these, and you’re not engaged,” Skyla says defensively.

I shrug. A lot is subjective. A handful at most, but for some reason, Miles Reynolds seems to be the ‘pick.’ I can’t for the life of me see why.

“Because I’m an insufferable cunt.” I laugh. Intentionally so. Maryia…she can’t help but be sweet and charming. It’s who she is; it’s who Liam is. Honestly, from an outsider’s perspective, they are kinda perfect for each other.

Skyla frowns at that as I bump her shoulder to grab her attention.

“Relax, she’s not into him. She just came all over my tongue in the bathroom before she voluntarily ate my pussy until I saw stars. Trust me, she’s gay as fuck.”

Skyla seems to relax a little before turning her attention back to them. I can see her getting more and more jealous by the second and I know nothing I will say will put her at ease. If I had five partners I was trying to make sure didn’t get married off, well, four, since Asher is her husband, I guess I’d be pretty territorial, too. Though the way Annie Williams, Ronan’s fiancée, mysteriously died seems a little too convenient. Especially when Vincent hasn’t been attending school much. Do I think he’s capable of killing someone just so Skyla wouldn’t have to go through that kind of heartbreak? Absofuckinglutly. Like I said, he’s a psycho. The psycho better not touch my girl, though.

Asher takes Skyla for a walk, ushering her away as our partners laugh and smile at one another. From my perspective, I can see it’s a friendly, platonic conversation, but the scheming mothers to their left definitely have more in mind.

“You really think she’s not interested?” Wesley asks.

I turn over my shoulder and nod.

“Maryia is actually pretty upset about being set up, I know where her loyalties lie.”

“Good,” Ronan says. “Last thing we need is another goddamn obsessed fiancée.”

I lift a brow at him. “Was that why Annie ended up dying? She was obsessed with you?”

Ronan narrows his eyes at me like he doesn’t like that I caught that piece, and I can’t help but shrug and smirk. He’s the most stoic of the bunch, well, maybe besides Vincent, but he’s also the easiest to rile up. He thinks he’s so in control all the time. Maybe it’s because of how he and Christopher were raised, like two princes in a palace. Make no mistake, he’s a pawn in this game just as much as the rest of us.

Suddenly, Liam approaches us, Maryia on his arm. I casually slide up beside her, sharing a secretive smirk as I look at Liam.

“So, what the fuck, Walcott? Think you can just move in on my girl?” I say to fuck with him.

His smile is in place, but up close, I can see how fake it is.

“Not my doing,” he says.

I nod as Asher comes back to the group, looking around with a frown.

“Where is Skyla?”

“You lost her?” Wesley balks.

“No!” Asher defends as Ronan’s head begins swiveling.

“Here she comes,” he says as Skyla rejoins us.

“You good?” Asher asks her.

She nods and I watch as Asher narrows his eyes at her. Yeah, right. Something is definitely up.

“I’d like to go home now,” Skyla says.

As if it were that simple, Asher, Wesley, and Ronan all begin escorting her to the door when she pauses to look at Liam. He nods to Maryia as he speaks.

“I need to take Maryia home first.”

Skyla doesn’t seem to like that answer, and I’m more than happy to step in.

“I got her,” I say as I loop my arm through Maryia’s other arm. “I mean, you are literally all over my girlfriend, bro.”

“As if I had a choice,” Liam grits through his teeth before casting an apologetic look to Maryia. “Sorry, no offense.”