Page 115 of Too Sweet
His head cracks off the wall again, and I step away before his blood stains my t-shirt.
“You’ll call it off.” I pause, cracking my neck. “You’ll call off the hunt, scrap the prize and inform everyone not to lay a finger on her. You’ll apologize on your fucking knees, and you’ll swear on your dick that you’ll deal with everyone who says one foul word to her. That includes your psychotic girlfriend. Got it?”
He nods repeatedly, up and down like a bobblehead. Yeah. You got it. I’ll call it all off, but... I don’t know what girlfriend you’re talking about, man. I don’t have a girlfriend.”
“Better you never get one,” Theo mutters, settling back on the couch beside Logan.
“Blair,” I supply. “Deal with her. And if I ever find out you’re playing games, gambling on another girl’s safety, you’ll choke on your dick.”
“Never, I swear. Now I know what can happen...” He trails off, his eyes pooling with fresh tears. “Shit, man. I’m sorry. I didn’t think it’d end like this. It was just a game.”
“Girls get raped for much less than twenty-five grand,” Shawn says, still on his feet, still ready to intervene.
He’s right not to trust me. I’m not sure I’m done.
“They get raped for fucking free, kid,” he continues. “You’re loaded and apparently clueless if you can’t put yourself in the shoes of anyone without money. You’d puke your fucking guts if you saw some of the shit I did over the years. You have no idea what people do for money.”
“I’m sorry. Really, I am,” Brandon chokes, meeting my gaze as he wipes his face on his sleeve. “You know I’d never do anything so stupid if I knew Mia’s yours.”
“What difference does it make whose she is?!” I snap. “Grow the fuck up. You have asister! Put her in Mia’s place for a second. Would it still be a game if it was Kathy in that restroom tonight?”
“No, of course not. Fuck, man... this is so surreal. That clip you played will haunt me in my sleep.”
“I hope it eats you alive. What Mia went through isyourfault. Make no mistake, kid. Anyone touches her again, there’ll be fucking hell to pay. Now get out of my house.”
“I’ll take care of it. I promise. I’ll call it all off.”
Colt grips his shoulder, ushering him toward the door. As soon as it bangs closed behind him, the Holy Trinity unites, standing arm-in-arm and blocking the doorway.
“Listen, we’re sorry, Nico,” Cody says, sounding like he’s barely holding it together. “We had her, we always have her, but when Grayson told us about the prize, we jumped Brandon, and—”
“I know,” I huff, massaging my temples.
“No, you don’t. We fucked up. We should’ve paid more attention; we should’ve...” Colt cuts himself off. “We won’t ask you to let us take her out again.”
“No, you won’t. I’m not her fucking owner, so you don’t ask me. You ask Mia. And you better do. She needs those nights, Colt. I need her to go out and party so she doesn’t regret not doing it later.” I plop down on the couch, accepting a glass of whiskey from Theo. “I don’t blame you for what happened tonight. You were looking out for her when you jumped Brandon, weren’t you?”
They all nod, each taking a glass from Theo, who’s playing bartender, fixing drinks in silence.
“I didn’t ask Johnny to keep an eye on Mia because I don’t trust you to do it right,” I say, taking a big sip. “I just... I’m working through my shit, trying to tame that controlling side. It takes time.”
Cody lets all air out of his lungs, then grits his teeth like he’s trying to get a hold of himself. “She’s in love with you, you know? And she’s scared you’ll leave her.”
“I know,” I huff, setting the glass aside. “I’ve made a few mistakes along the way, but I’m learning how to navigate this. She’s not what I’m used to, and I’ve fucked up a few times, but don’t worry. I promised I won’t hurt her, and I won’t.”
He stares me down, in a mixture of apology and relief. “How is she? You need us to do anything?”
“No. She’s asleep. I don’t think it hit her yet, but we’ll all be here for her when it does.”
“She’s tougher than she looks,” Colt admits, taking a seat on the piano stool.
“Yeah...” Conor drawls on a long exhale. “Too tough for her own fucking good sometimes.”
???
Mia didn’t wake up screaming.
Not once. She didn’t move much all night.
