Page 108 of Double Down

“He was busy,” the blonde giggles.

“What the hell, Mav?” I ask.

“Oh, sugar, you didn’t think you’d be able to keep all of them to yourself, did you?” She flips her hair and presses her body toMaverick’s side. His hand is still on her lower back. Not pulling her closer, but not pushing her away, either.

“Oh, shit,” Storm says, walking into the room with a stack of papers in his hand. Con is right behind him, and so is Atticus.

Yay. Now everyone gets to bear witness to my humiliation.

“Why?” I ask Maverick, refusing to look at the woman who keeps petting his chest.

“I—” His mouth opens and closes; his eyes still don’t find mine.

“Oh, sweetie,” the woman coos. “I think you know why. Sometimes a man like this just needs a woman who can handle him. Oh, you didn’t think he stopped sleeping with the rest of us, did you? Or that any of them stopped fucking other women? Just because they moved you up here for convenience doesn’t mean they belong to you.”

“No—” Maverick starts.

Heat flashes through my body, and I finally let myself look at her. I grit my teeth, refusing to let tears gather. Of course, I let myself think that. How fucking stupid am I?

“That’s exactly what it means,” Storm seethes, surprising me into transferring my attention to him for a moment. He glares at Maverick, rage burning in his eyes.

Maverick flinches at Storm’s words, but they do nothing to douse the nausea in my gut or the sting behind my eyes.

“Well, fine, you can have the scary one, but the hot Titan” —she pats Mav’s chest— “the bossy one, and the smart one are still up for grabs where the rest of us girls are concerned.” She giggles as her hand drifts lower.

I snap before it reaches his belt. I lunge, snatch her by her cheap extensions, and—using the fake hair, a lot of rage, and the benefit of surprise—yank her into the hallway and slam the door in her face.

She bangs on the door, screaming something, but I don’t give a fuck.

I turn on Maverick, hands planted on my hips. “That’s one idiot out of the room. Now I’ll ask you again—why?”

His bloodshot eyes finally meet mine, and I’m able to see what I didn’t before. He’s been drinking. Heavily. Not an excuse, but maybe an explanation for the lowering of his guard.

“You know why.”

“No, I don’t.” I take a step toward him. “Why would you bring her up here? With everything going on? Why would you let her treat you like that—like a piece of meat? Why would you?—”

I stop. I was about to ask why he’d hurt me like that. But why wouldn’t he? I’m just the babysitter, right? The woman hired to keep them out of trouble…even though they’re in deeper because of me.

“I didn’t.” he shrugs.

“Don’t give me that shit. No one likes her. She’s a vapid, small-minded bitch. Her own mother doesn’t even like her because she tries to fuck anything that walks.”

“Careful, Phoenix,” Maverick jeers. “That’s not being a girls’ girl. Slut-shaming is beneath you.”

My name sounds wrong on his lips. I hate it when he calls me anything other than Firebird.

“She came up here to fuck you just to prove she could. She called you ‘the hot Titan,’ like you’re a sex toy she can check out. Did you see the way she looked at me? She got off on the drama. I’m not shaming her for being a slut. I’m shaming her for being vindictive and mean. I’m shaming you for being a slut.”

“Big words for a woman who likes to get tag-teamed.” He’s in my face now. His breath smells like whiskey, and it’s barely lunchtime.

“Says the man who likes to watch his friends fuck the girl he actually wants.” I don’t blink. “I know how you look at a woman you want to fuck, Maverick. I’ve got firsthand experience. That is not how you looked at her. So tell me why you’re pushing this right now.”

“You don’t know shit,” he barks.

Conrad takes a step toward us, and I lift my hand to stop him. He takes another step, jaw clenching, but Storm and Atticus hold him back.

They must see what I see. Something is hurting Mav. Hurt people want to hurt people, and Mav has decided the person he’s going to hurt is me.