Chapter 27 #2
“Call it a premonition.”
“A—Austin isn’t dirty.” I know that in my soul. He may not have believed me, sided with, or stood by me, but he’s not dirty.
Riley shrugs. “Hypothetically speaking.” He glances behind himself at my loved ones, crowded together to keep an eye on me. “Money speaks louder than actions. Everyone in this house knows that.”
He continues to stare at someone, and when Clover shrinks behind Cian, I know it’s her. My hands clench at my sides with every painful accusation I want to hurl at Riley.
“I heard poor, delicate Clover had some…unexpected gifts,” Riley says, and fire burns through my system, roaring and racing to cut him off from my friends—my family.
“What did you do?” I seethe.
“Who? Me?” His fake innocence makes my head explode.
“Nothing, Sin. Clover writes some pretty fucked-up thrillers that have a, shall we call them, obsessive fanbase, and your little town here likes to spread gossip like melted butter. But I will say this, whoever doxxed her information must have known this was a…possibility.” I can tell by his smug expression that it was him.
“Shame about Madison’s ex too, though I’m too late to enjoy his particular brand of…
love. So much…pain in this little town of Happiness, don’t you think?
It does always amaze me how easily people are willing to give up information if the price is right. ”
He’s bribing someone for information on me and my friends. I know it. It’s how he works, but I can’t give him any kind of reaction, or he’ll pounce.
“I’ve heard enough,” I say.
He slaps both hands onto the island. “You haven’t heard anything yet. You are mine, you slutty little sea witch. You’ve always been mine, and you will always be mine. Mine to ruin. Mine to shame. Mine to destroy.”
He stands to his full height, but Grey is shifting his weight from foot to foot behind him, and I know he’ll only hold out a few more moments before he barges in here.
“But, Sin, I’ve grown.” God, his voice takes on a slithery edge, and goosebumps erupt on my arms. “I’ve had plenty of time to think and plan, so I’ll give you a choice.”
An indelicate scoff escapes me, and he narrows his eyes as though he’s already thinking of punishments for the infraction.
“You can either come home to Vegas and be my mine, or I’ll stay here and ruin everyone and everything you love.”
That’s not a choice—it’s a death sentence.
“Why did you show me Austin and Paige’s save the date?”
His snarl curls into a cruel smirk. “Because Austin wants you to finally step up and take accountability. He wants you at the wedding, but only if you can make amends for your wrongdoing. Paige’s family, of course, wants nothing to do with you, but as his best man, I’ve promised to keep you in line. ”
“Best man?”
His mask slips, and I’m face-to-face with the demon he holds inside. “Didn’t you know? Austin felt so guilty over your lies that he’s come to visit me every week. Over ten years, we’ve formed an unbreakable friendship.”
“You’ve manipulated him into a friendship, you mean.”
“Now you’re learning. People will always do what I want them to do—even you. The sooner you learn that, the less pain I’ll inflict on those assholes behind me.”
“It’s time for you to go,” Grey says, charging into the room.
Riley taps the save the date I’ve placed face up on the island. “The only problems they have in their relationship are because of you. You’ve ruined lives, Sin. Not just mine, but theirs. You deserve to pay for what you’ve done, and they deserve closure.”
The closer Grey gets, the stronger I become.
“The only thing I did was make the mistake of trusting you when I was a child,” I hiss.
“Everything spiraled because you were a spoiled little rich boy who couldn’t take no for an answer.
” My voice cracks, and I focus all my energy into controlling it.
“If they’re happy and in love, then I’m happy for them.
I’ve tried to make peace with them both over the years, but I can’t force anyone to believe something they don’t want to see. ”
I step forward, and Grey’s hand catches my hip, as though he’s going to physically restrain me from moving, then with a gentle squeeze, he lets me go.
“Yes, it hurts me to not be part of their lives anymore, but I have zero regrets about the actions I took after you forced me into that car. I have zero regrets about ensuring you stay out of my life. And that’s the truth.
So, if you’re here to make threats or issue commands, I don’t care to hear them. You, Riley DeVane, are nothing to me.”
“Maybe not now, but I will be, Sin. I’ve had ten years to think of all the ways you should be punished.
But after seeing this”—he points to every person I love—“I know what will hurt you the most, so you can be sure you’ll see me around because I’m not going anywhere.
I will haunt your life until you’ve paid for your crimes. ”
“And what crime would that be?” Grey demands. He’s a loaded cannon ready to fire. I’m actually impressed that he’s held it together as long as he has.
“She’s the reason my car crashed into the tree. She’s the reason Paige will never walk again. It’s all her fault.” Riley’s devilish grin sends a chill down my spine.
In that instant, I know he means what he says—he has no intention of ever leaving me alone.
A flash of a memory steals my breath. The ugliness in his expression right before we crashed into the tree. He’d looked at me with unseeing eyes and made a promise my subconscious had done everything in its power to block out: You are mine, Sin. Till death do us part, you are mine.
Then he drove straight into that tree, and everything that came after was pain and heartache.