Chapter 3 #2
I take a deep breath and try a different tactic since he’s obviously in a mood, and I know seeing me is only stirring up memories of a time neither of us wants to relive.
“Look, it’s not my intention to accuse you.
I’m just worried about my friend, okay? She’s my best friend—my only friend, really—and I want to find her. ”
My response doesn’t seem to loosen the set of his jaw or make him stop glaring down at me. “Ask me if I give a fuck? Do it.”
Fuck. Why does he have to be so hardheaded? “I know you hate me, but Saint didn’t do anything to you. She’s innocent. If she’s in some kind of danger, you have to tell me.”
“I wouldn’t say, even if I had something to tell you. You’re wasting my time. Now get the fuck out of my face before I show you what it’s really like to be my enemy.”
Goose bumps rush across my skin, and I shiver, maybe from fear, or maybe desire. I don’t really know.
“I’m not leaving until I know something. Maybe I’ll go inside, ask around, and find one of your other brothers. Calder wasn’t very forthcoming, but Sawyer or Levi might be.”
“Go, talk to them. Fuck it out of them for all I care.”
My mouth pops open before I can stop it, then snaps shut. “Excuse me, but I’m not a whore.”
“That’s not what I hear.” His jaw clenches.
In an instant, my cheeks are warm. Yes, I’m wild, and I like to flirt and have a drink or two—even if I’m not quite of age—but that doesn’t mean I’m sleeping with every single man I talk to. I cross my arms over my chest and ignore the warmth trickling into my belly at our proximity.
I’m angry. Turned on. And I just kinda want to punch him in the face right now.
“Maybe don’t listen to everything you hear,” I spit. “And if you don’t want to tell me anything, that’s fine. I’m sure everything will come to light once I get the authorities involved.”
There’s no time for me to react or even step away.
Kade is on me in a flash, his thick hand circling my throat.
Fear creeps into my mind. I attempt to take a step back, but there’s nowhere to escape.
His firm grasp is unyielding. Air wheezes from my lungs when he gently squeezes the column of my throat, testing its limits.
I refuse to back down and meet his stare, glaring into his emotionless eyes.
“Let go of me,” I growl and push at his chest with both hands, but he doesn’t move. If anything, his grip tightens.
“Why would I do that?” he asks, squeezing a little harder and cutting my air supply off long enough for real fear to sink in. “If you want to play games, then we can play games.”
“What the hell is wrong with you?” I sputter, sucking a ragged breath into my lungs.
“So many things, but you know that already.” He smirks, but it’s not a real smile.
I know his smile, and this isn’t it.
I shove at his chest again, using a little more force this time, but it is impossible to get him to release me. It’s like trying to move a mountain. I won’t panic. I refuse.
Kade won’t hurt me, not in any way outside of scaring me. Then I reconsider. That might have been true before, but I’m not so sure now.
Moving closer, he tickles my earlobe with his breath.
“What, nothing to say now that you’re at my mercy?”
“Let me go,” I demand.
“I don’t think I will. I kinda like having control. Having the little filly at my whim.” Despite the fear trickling through me, there’s a spark of need with it, and I wish I could extinguish it.
“Don’t call me that,” I snap.
“Aw, why not?” he taunts. “Don’t want to remember all the good times we had together? How I made you scream my name while I fingered you, or all the times you came so hard you passed out after I ate your sweet pussy?”
There’s no way to stop my body from reacting to the memories popping into my head. My nipples harden, and my core clenches around nothing. Despite the attraction and the reminder of how intense things were between us, it doesn’t change anything. It can’t.
“Stop. I didn’t come here to talk about us. I came here to ask for help in finding Saint. Because you know something.” I latch onto his wrist and try to tug it away.
“I think you’re hard of hearing because I’ve already—” He snatches my hand and tugs it closer to his face, almost like he’s inspecting it.
“Stop manhandling me!” I struggle in his grasp and freeze when I realize his attention is locked on the gigantic diamond ring sitting on my finger.
It’s fine. Everything is fine. It’s just another reason for him to hate me. Not that it matters really. He would’ve found out soon enough.
Kade’s eyes dart back up to my face, and there’s no missing the hurt there, but that’s not what steals the air from my lungs. It’s the dark, feral look of possession glazing over that hurt. Like the ring means nothing to him. That it’s a mere hurdle rather than a stop sign.
“I see congratulations are in order. Who’s the unlucky groom? Oh, let me guess, some little pansy-ass rich boy you’re not afraid to take home to Mommy.”
“It’s none of your business,” I snap. Does he really think that I want to be engaged at twenty? He acts like he doesn’t know me at all. “If you don’t have any information to share, then I believe this conversation is over.”
“What do you mean? Maybe I’m not done talking to you yet.” He’s so close now, all either one of us would have to do is lean in a little and our lips would touch. I try to focus my attention on anything but his mouth and the consuming desire I have to kiss him.
The faint scent of whiskey from his breath washes over me. It mixes with the heady scent of him. A dangerous combination of cinnamon, vanilla, and a hint of smoke. It makes my thoughts fuzzy.
Warmth. Home.
He smells like home. And for a heartbeat, I forget our past, forget that I’m soon to be engaged, forget we’re enemies. My heartbeat skyrockets, and butterflies riot through me. Then he opens his mouth and douses me in gasoline.
“You think your fiancé would be bothered if I fucked your pretty little throat? Filled it with my cum, ya know, one last time for nostalgia’s sake?”
Piece. Of. Fucking. Shit.
In an instant, I’m a fire-breathing dragon, my want for him drowning in anger. Using both hands, I shove him away as hard as I can.
I know if he really wanted to keep hold of me, there would be no breaking his grasp, but thankfully, he’s smart enough to let me go. As soon as I’m free, I stumble a couple of steps away.
Bitter laughter erupts from him, but there’s nothing good in his eyes.
How can this be the same man I fell in love with? It isn’t.
“I’m not sure what I ever saw in you.” I back away slowly. “Whatever good was there, it’s gone now.” I blink away the tears threatening to fall.
The last thing I want to do is cry, but I’m so angry and so sad.
Did I even know the real him?
He snorts like I said something funny. “I think that’s the smartest thing you’ve ever said. Glad you’re getting with the fucking program.”
I swallow my emotions again. “This is your warning, Kade. I know that you know what happened to Saint, and if she’s hurt or in danger, and I find out, I promise there will be hell to pay.
In the meantime, I’m going to keep looking for her, keep asking questions and making noise until I get an answer that satisfies me.
If that unearths some Bishop skeletons, then so be it, but I won’t stop. ”
“I’m not scared of you, Allie. And neither is anyone else in my family. It wouldn’t even be worth the effort to squish you beneath our boots.”
“It’s not me you should be scared of. It’s the people I have in my pocket, the ones that have the power to bring to light all the bad shit you and your family have done. One call and it’s over.”
His entire body locks up, and the blue of his eyes darkens impossibly further.
Good. Let him be mad. Let him realize how serious I am. “Fuck around and find out.” I grin and stuff my hands into my pockets.
I turn my back to him and walk to my car. I can feel his eyes on me, watching every step I take. I know the more noise I make, the more retaliation I’ll face, but I don’t care. I want to find Saint. I need to find her.
By the time I’ve made it to my car, the ache in my chest pulses. I haven’t felt this kind of pain since the night I ended things between us. I’d hoped to never experience it again, but I guess I was wrong.
I was wrong about a lot of things.
Kade was never the man I thought he was.
He’s my enemy.
My demise.
The man I love but can never have.