Chapter 23 #2
In a daze and not wanting to admit to what I know, I stare his way. “She doesn’t love me anymore.”
“You know she’s only saying that to hurt you.”
“I don’t know anymore.”
“Oh, come on. You’re the only person she’s loved. That doesn’t disappear overnight.”
I nod in agreement, with my inside hollow. “You’re right, but we’ve been apart for months. Maybe she’s moved on.”
He studies me for a moment. “What did she say when you were upstairs?”
“Um…” I sink my teeth into my bottom lip. “It’s not what she said, it’s what I found.”
“What was that?”
“She had a box of condoms in her purse. I looked inside and all but one were gone.”
“Ah, bro. No fucking way!” He swipes his palm down his face and releases a heavy sigh. “You sure about that, Cash?”
“Yeah.” I sit on the stool. “She locked herself in the bathroom and refused to talk to me about it.”
“Whoa. I can’t believe it.”
“Me neither.” I shake my head. “Who has she been dating?”
“No one that I know of.”
“Don’t hold out on me. Tell me so I can deal with him.”
He puts his hands up in the surrender position. “I honestly don’t know.”
“You said she stumbled in last night around three. Do you know where she was before she came home?”
“She was at that members-only dive bar where we hang out and they let us drink.”
I race through all the guys I know who go there. Who could it be? Bren and I review every asshole we can think of for the next hour, but none of them stand out.
She can’t stay upstairs forever, so I wait for her to come down. I will get to the bottom of this today.
The front door alarm beeps, alerting us that someone has either entered or she’s leaving. I spin out of my chair and run through the formal dining room since it’s the closest route to the foyer.
Through the window, I catch a glimpse of her from the corner of my eye and she’s not alone. She’s practically skipping off with Sebastian fucking Holloway.
They reach the gravel area off the concrete circular driveway where all the extra cars can park. I see red and tear out of the room.
Bren grips my arm and stops me. “Cash, don’t go out there.”
“Guns, she can’t be with him.” My chest heaves. “He’s not who everyone thinks he is.”
“If you go out there, you’re gonna—”
“Kill the sick fuck? Yeah, damn fucking straight I am.” I fling Bren off me and race outside with only one person in my line of sight.
The guy who wants to rape Livianna is gonna die in mere seconds. Bren chases and grabs at me, trying to get me to rethink my decision.
I trudge forward, pushing him away. “Hey, Sebastian. We have an agreement, or have you forgotten?”
He turns my way and his face pales. “This isn’t what it looks like, Cash.”
“No? You’re not getting ready to drive off with Livianna?” I get chest to chest with him, every muscle in my body ready to pounce.
Leon’s words echo in my head. Sebastian wants her and he’s tried to get to her more times than you know. One day when you least expect it, he’s going to get what he’s patiently waiting for.
Everything goes silent and the next thing I know is my fist makes contact with his jaw. His head swings to the side and blood flies from his mouth. He falls to the ground and I go right down with him.
Chaos ensues as I make hit after hit, not knowing where I’m landing my punches. People are yelling and screaming, but none of it registers.
Something strikes me with great force. The air gets knocked out of my lungs as someone lands on top of me.
I’m face down on the Hemingses’ gravel driveway with some larger motherfucker gripping my arms behind my back and throwing handcuffs on my wrists.
Fucking hell.
The main patrol guard who watches over their subdivision must have been driving by and seen my attack happen. Then he came to Sebastian’s rescue. Lucky bastard always seems to have a savior watching out for him.
The guy pulls me to my feet and pushes me away. “I have the police on their way, so don’t do anything stupid.”
I laugh. “That’s all I know what to do.”
The guy rushes to assist Sebastian as I try to breathe. My heart is jackhammering so hard I can feel it pressing on my ribs with each heavy thump it makes.
Bren pokes me in the center of the chest, showing me his teeth. “You dumb prick. I should give you exactly what you gave.”
“If you knew what I know about him, you would’ve done the same thing.” I try to kick pebbles at Sebastian, but Bren’s in my way. I glare into his eyes. “He wants to—”
“Shut your fucking mouth, Cash.” Bren shoves me. “During your tirade, you hit Livianna. I told you to stay in the goddamn house.”
The blood drains from my limbs as I search for her. I accidentally did this before and she could’ve died.
How and why did I do it again? She disappears into the house, holding the left side of her face.
I trip backward and turn my guilt-ridden gaze to Bren. “Guns, you know I wouldn’t hurt her. You know I’d never touch her.”
“Yet you have, and not only once. You did this before when you went after that guy on set.” He takes a swing and it lands right on my cheekbone. “You’re lucky the cops are on the way.”
I wince and shake off the sting. “Guns, I’m sorry. Punch me all you want, but you know I’d never intentionally do anything to her.”
“Fuck off, Cash. I can’t even look at you right now.” He stomps away and slams the door once he’s inside with Livianna.
I raise my gaze to the sky. “You must really fucking hate me because you just won’t give me a fighting chance.”
The police arrive moments later, right along with an ambulance for Sebastian. I’m arrested on suspicion of battery and hauled away.
My life can’t get much worse than this. Or maybe it can.