Epilogue
Neo
I really need to break things off with Kyle. He’s an asshole. Not a fun one, either. One that needs douching several times before it’s palatable to be around.
Maybe I should try holding Kyle’s head down the toilet, see if it makes him a bit nicer.
Ironic, really, given his job as a plumber. He might even find it funny.
As I listen to him drone on about GTA for the fifth time this evening, I doubt there’s anything he’d find funny. He hasn’t laughed at a single one of my jokes over the past few months.
It’s not the quality of what I’m saying. I’m fucking hilarious, thank you very much. Everyone says so.
Well, maybe not everyone. Wylder doesn’t seem to find me funny either. Doesn’t stop me from fucking with him at every opportunity. I’m not sure why I’m doing it, either.
Something about Wylder just gets under my skin. I just wanna ruffle up his perfect hair and rip open his starched white button-down before sucking his cock down my throat.
Fine. Maybe I do know why I’m doing it. It’s not my fault that he’s straight and sort of still dating Candace.
I haven’t even met her and I hate her. She was rude to Ansel and Cade, which means she’s dead to me.
If I’m being completely honest, I would’ve hated her just for being with Wylder. But it helps to know she’s also a bitch. Makes hating her feel a little more justified.
Oh, who am I kidding? I’d hate her anyway.
“I just think you should give it a chance,” Kyle whines. “You’d like it if you tried it.”
“I have tried it, remember? Several times.” He pouts, and I roll my eyes. “Fine, I guess I can give it a go again if it’ll make you happy.”
Happy is too high an aim with this butthead, but he stops sulking, which I’ll take as a win. Honestly, I really need to quit this relationship, and soon. The sex isn’t good and his company is worse. Ansel can’t stand him, and I’m pretty sure Cade has threatened to murder him a time or two.
Given what Cade does for a living, it’s a threat he would be all too delighted to bring to life.
Kyle doesn’t deserve that. I mean, he’s a dick, but not worth Cade’s attention.
The check comes, and Kyle suddenly finds his phone very interesting. I pull it toward me with a sigh. I’m doing that so much lately that I’m starting to sound like Wylder.
Don’t get me wrong, I don’t expect my dates to pay for me. But it’s been several months now, and Kyle hasn’t paid once.
Not one single time.
So, why do I stay?
Well, I do like to blame my childhood trauma for everything, but in this case, it’s valid. When you grow up with nothing, you tend to get possessive of the things you do have. You cling to them, even when it’s way past time to let go.
That’s one reason…but mainly it’s because of Wylder.
I’m not an idiot. I see how his brothers watch us. The way they smirk when they see us interact. I’ve even caught Ansel whispering to Cade about a betting pool.
Joke’s on them, though. Wylder wouldn’t ever look twice at me, even if he were gay.
He’s made that damn fucking clear.
I try not to let it bother me. It’s not like anyone’s ever truly wanted or loved me, aside from Ansel.
It’s no surprise that Wylder doesn’t want me either. Why change the habit of a lifetime?
I pretend it doesn’t hurt, but it does. Why the fuck am I always attracted to the unavailable ones? The ones who don’t, and never will, like me back?
If that mystery ever gets solved, I might die of shock.
As soon as the check is paid, with a hefty tip for the waiter who had to put up with Kyle’s rudeness and immaturity, we exit the restaurant. He immediately starts to talk about his stupid fucking game again.
I tune him out. It’s not that I don’t like gaming; I love it.
But not that one.
Annoyance pricks at me as I trail after him. Why does he insist on walking six feet in front of me all the time? He always seems to forget I have shorter legs. I gave up rushing to keep up with him weeks ago, and he still hasn’t noticed.
Yeah, I really need to break it off.
My mind wanders to the little surprise I left in Wylder’s bed. It cost far more than I’ve ever spent on lingerie before, but he’s worth it. A man of good taste. He’d prefer me in the good stuff.
If he did, in fact, prefer me at all.
Fucking with him like this isn’t healthy, but I just can’t help myself. Wylder likes to pretend that he’s cool, calm, and collected at all times, but it’s bullshit. I can see it in his eyes. His emotions are buried deep, but they’re there, just waiting to break free.
I want to be the one to do it.
The lingerie might be the thing that sends him over the edge. I didn’t want him to think it was from Candace, so I left a little note explaining what I’d done in it the night before.
What the stains up the front of it are from. Just in case there was any confusion.
What? I never said I’m a good person. I’m not. Far from it.
But neither’s Wylder. And until he finally snaps, I’m going to keep trying to tease the real him out to play.
I bet we’d have so much fun.
I’m so lost in my thoughts that I don’t notice right away that Kyle isn’t in front of me anymore. When I do, I come to an abrupt halt, peering through the dark night. “Kyle?”
A sharp yell comes from the alley just to my right. “Let me go. I swear, I’m innocent.”
Hushed words are hissed back, too quiet for me to hear them. Whoever they are, they have Kyle sobbing in fear.
I hover, unsure what to do. I don’t like Kyle, but I can’t just leave him to die.
I mean, I could, but I probably shouldn’t.
Realistically, I know I should call Cade. He’d be here in a second, half of his brothers likely in tow.
Discovering that the Buckinghams are behind The Firm was a shock, but it made sense when I thought about it. Who else has the power and connections to pull off that scheme aside from them?
There’s the sound of a punch and more crying from Kyle. Sighing, I square my shoulders and walk to the opening of the alley. I try to sound really threatening when all I really am is bored.
“Hey! Um. Let him go.”
Whoever is pinning Kyle to the wall is masked. He has a gloved hand pulled back to deliver another punch, but at the sound of my voice, he freezes. “Neo?”
I step closer, squinting in the gloom. Oh fuck, it’s a Buckingham. Well, at least I’m not dying tonight. If Ansel has sicced one of them on Kyle though, I’m gonna be pissed.
I can’t tell who it is as he’s masked and using a voice distorter. Based on his height, it’s not Harley, but that’s the best I’ve got. “Which one are you?”
With his attacker distracted, Kyle suddenly shoves against the man’s chest. He sprints past me, almost knocking me off my feet. He doesn’t look back once.
Not a single time.
The masked Buckingham comes to stand beside me, head cocked quizzically. “Did he just…run away?”
“He just ran away,” I repeat in disbelief.
“What if you’d actually been in danger?”
“Well, I guess he would’ve had to live with the knowledge that he left me to die.” I scowl as I glare at his retreating back. “I suspect he wouldn’t lose too much sleep.”
“Why are you with him?”
I glance at him, surprised. “Why do you care?”
“Humor me.”
Awareness prickles at me. It’s in his stance. His build. His choice of words.
I know which Buckingham this is. Maybe I’ve known all along. I don’t understand why he hasn’t confirmed it. But if this is a game that Wylder wants to play with me, I hope he’s ready to lose.
“Because he satisfies me,” I taunt, taking a step closer to Wylder. “He knows all the ways to make me moan. To make me scream. How best to make me beg. I can’t get enough. That’s why I’m with him.”
He stiffens, eliminating any doubt as to his identity. Every one of his brothers would’ve had a comeback to those comments. All he says is, “I see.”
I chuckle bitterly. “I don’t think you do, Wylder. If you did, we’d be having a very different conversation.”
With a sigh, he removes his mask. My mouth dries out at the sight of his hair in disarray. Is this what he looks like after sex? All disheveled and sweaty?
Shame I’ll never find out.
“You deserve better than good sex,” Wylder says, staring in the direction Kyle vanished. “At the very least, you deserve someone who won’t abandon you in a dangerous situation.”
I shrug. “Never had that before, so I’m not expecting to get that now.”
“That’s not true.”
“It is. Everyone abandons me.” There’s no inflection in my voice. Why would there be? I’m just speaking facts.
Wylder purses his lips. “Ansel hasn’t.”
“True, but he’s not my partner.” Or my blood family. He’s my chosen family for sure, but those actually related to me? All of them abandoned me. Every single one. “It’s fine. I have low expectations of everyone. Can’t be disappointed then.”
Wylder’s gaze is burning a hole in my forehead. “What a depressing sentiment.”
I grin, trying to bring this back to a level I’m more familiar with. “Why do you care, hm? Trying to figure out the best way to woo me? I’m touched.”
Predictably, Wylder flushes and shuts down. “Of course not.”
I try to pretend it doesn’t hurt. “Why are you here? Did Cade or Ansel ask you to shake Kyle down?”
“No.” Wylder frowns. “Someone put a request in with The Firm. Should Cade have asked me? I don’t know much about Kyle, but given that impression—”
“No.” I cut him off quickly. “He’s an asshole, but a harmless one.”
“Unless we count abandoning you in an alley with a dangerous masked stranger to save his own ass.”
I huff. “You’re not really a stranger though. Or very dangerous, for that matter, tiny dick man.”
Wylder raises a brow, stepping closer to me. “Oh, I can be very dangerous, Neo. Don’t mistake my polite facade for harmlessness. I know ways to hurt people that most serial killers would find disturbing.”
See, that shouldn’t be hot, but it is. A shiver moves over me as he creeps closer. I’m not even sure if he knows he’s doing it. “You wouldn’t hurt me.”
My back hits the wall as Wylder towers over me. “Wanna bet?”
A grin spreads slowly over my face as I spot the monster lurking in Wylder’s eyes. He’s begging to be set free, pleading with me to let him out to play.
I just need Wylder to hand me the keys.
And we’ll play all fucking night long.