Page 40 of Heartless (Scathing Hearts #1)

Ignoring her agape mouth, I turned to Kimberly.

“I’ve watched you with Nigel. And I know you know your shelf life is coming to an end, and no amount of gross French kissing is going to change that.

” I tilted my head to the side. “You pretended not to know Jake while you were playing the sad, dutiful wife in front of your husband’s son.

Now I can’t help but wonder how Joel is going to react when I tell him you cheated on his dying father with at least two men.

The same men his previous Mommy Dearest slept with.

” Channeling Silas, I made myself smirk.

“I think I’m going to enjoy that conversation. ”

Kimberly paled. “Listen—”

“You came here to talk. I’m talking.” I planted my gaze into Rowena Wheelan’s.

“And you, you really are the saddest of them all. Has Nigel ever called you his ‘little dear’? Did he ask you to call him ‘Dad’ and move in with him?” She gasped, and tears filled her widened eyes.

“I guess not. Must suck to have the wrong blood type. But the person I really feel sorry for is your stepfather. This man has raised you as his own, and now he has to watch you chase after a father who paid you to leave him alone.”

A male voice cut through whatever she was about to say.

“Order for Sienna.”

I stood up slowly to make sure my legs wouldn’t fail me while Rowena glided out of the booth. I watched the wall of women for a few seconds and held their stares—Kimberly’s was more like a glower.

My stomach hurt, but my voice was firm. “Come after me or Jake again and watch me turn the Morrison men against your squadron of vipers.”

Kimberly stepped closer and hissed. “They won’t listen to you.”

My forced scoff hurt my throat. “Try me, Kimmy.”

I walked out of Puccini’s with my head high. But my heart was breaking yet again.

****

Olly parked his car in front of my building. His brows were furrowed when he turned to me. “Are you sure it’s not food poisoning?”

It was a case of people poisoning. After I’d gone back to the office, I’d rushed to the bathroom where I’d thrown up the few mouthfuls of lunch I’d made myself eat. Unfortunately, Sherry had been in the bathroom at the time, and she’d insisted I finished my day at home.

Forcing a smile, I said, “Maybe. I’ll drink plenty of water and I’m sure I’ll be fine tomorrow.”

“You heard Sherry. A whole week at home.”

I nodded. “I’ll talk to you tomorrow.”

Once out of his car, I waved at him and headed toward the building. As soon as I stepped in the lobby, Mort, the thin man managing the building waved at me while rounding the polished desk.

“Good afternoon, Ms. Winslow.” He handed me a key with a fob. “Your car has been returned and parked in your parking space.”

“Thank you, Mort.”

In my apartment, I staggered to my bedroom. After slipping out of my shoes, I got changed and curled up on my sofa. When my cell rang, I reached for my purse. My throat tightened. It was Jake.

“Hi, Jake.”

“Baby, what’s wrong? Ruiz told me you went home.”

I cleared my throat. “I just got a bit woozy, so Sherry sent me home.”

“I’ll be there in half an hour.”

I shook my head. “No, it’s okay, I’m feeling better now, and I have a work call. I’ll see you later.”

The slight pause made me hold my breath. I didn’t want to... I didn’t trust myself to not crumble if I saw him right now.

“I’ll be home around six. I’ll make dinner.”

After the call had ended, I stared at my cell.

His trademark.

He’d slept with every woman affiliated with Nigel Morrison.

Had he cooked for them too? Had he given them a cute endearment that had made them feel precious and special?

When a tear dropped on the black screen, I blinked and exhaled a slow breath.

After grabbing my water bottle from the fridge, I sat on the sofa and got to work.

Time flew by, and I was still on a call when there was a knock on my door. It was five past six. Jake was here.

My heart started racing as I got up to unlock the door.

“Hello?” the woman said in my ear.

“Sorry, I’m here. Just a second.”

As Jake locked the door behind him, I returned to my laptop. “Yes, I’ve received it. Thanks.”

The call ended, and I pivoted toward Jake whose expression was concerned.

“Are you still feeling sick?”

My throat burned, and I shook my head. It was worse. So much worse.

His frown deepened. “What’s wrong, baby?”

Everything.

I put the length of the coffee table between us. Safely away from his touch, I took a deep breath, but it did nothing to appease the tremors inside me.

****

Jake

Something was fucking wrong.

She cleared her throat. “I had a visit today while I was picking up lunch.”

“Where was Ruiz?”

“He was there.” She swallowed. “The visit was from Rowena Wheelan, Kimberly Morrison, and Cecily Morrison-now-Inglewood. They said you and Silas slept with them because they were close to Nigel.” She swept her fingers through her hair, and hurt filled her gaze. “Is that true?”

Those fucking jackals. “Baby—”

“Jake, is it true?”

“Sienna, I don’t know what they told you—”

“You did,” she whispered, and tension tightened the back of my neck.

Curling her hands around her elbows, she cleared her throat.

“Kimberly said when she told you she was in love with you, you said you just wanted to break one of Nigel’s toys.

They said after you give oral sex to a woman, you wipe your mouth on her inner thigh.

They called it your sexual trademark. They also confirmed you were an exceptional lover. So, I guess there’s that.”

“Baby, listen to me—”

“Did you find it difficult to sleep with them at the beginning as well?”

Fuck, baby. Don’t ask me that.

When I stepped closer, she stepped back. Fuck. “Please answer, Jake.”

I drove my fists in my pockets. “No.”

She flinched, and her chin trembled before her head dropped. “Just me then,” she murmured.

Wrapping her arms around herself, she hooked her darkened gaze onto mine. “How does that... work with you and Silas? Were you going to invite him to bed with us, or were you going to convince me to sleep with him, so you two could compare notes?”

I locked my body into place. “Those women latched onto his cock all by themselves. I just didn’t give a fuck that they did.”

A single tear spilled down her cheek. “I’ll never know what I am to you.”

Fuck no. I lunged and cupped her nape. “You know, baby. You know what you are to me. You’re fucking mine, Sienna.”

Lifting her wounded gaze, she whispered, “What part, Jake? What part of me is yours? The part who is Nigel’s daughter, or the part who isn’t?

” She exhaled a long breath and stepped back.

“I’m tired, Jake. God, I’m so freaking tired of people using me.

I’m tired of being watched by Nigel and his people.

Edo and his people. Tired of needing a bodyguard.

And I just want... peace. I need space. Away from you. ”

The defeat in her tone sucker-punched me. “Baby, don’t let them—”

“I’m doing this for me, Jake. I need to take care of me. Alone.”

If I pushed her right now, I’d lose her. “I’ll give you time, baby. Then, we’ll talk.”

Fuck those bitches who’d put that pain in her eyes. Against every fiber of my body, I walked out of her apartment.