Page 116 of Falling in Reverse

“Every action has a consequence, Bay. I won’t forget that.”

“Same.”

I inquire, keeping my eyes on my mixed greens and nowhere else because something stupid might leave my throat.

Like offering her a personal ride on my own cock or some shit.

“How many more times are we gonna fight, Pretty Boy? I’m not an easy opponent and I’m not getting the benefits of make-up sex afterward, so this really is a waste of my time.”

“I’ll let the anticipation kill you,” I quip back at her as she did me before she shot my ass and then jerk my head to the entryway leading back out to the front door. “So do what’s best for you and get lost. As I’ve said, you don’t want to be involved with my dad or brother.”

For your own damn good and mine.

Her neck cranes to look at me. “Can’t.”

I hear that word loud and clear, clutching my fork harder and I know what she’s thinking.

That I’m Emilio’s bitch.

That I follow his orders to the tee on what he says. That I’m such an entitled little prick who had everything handed down to him.

The latter is true.

Up until fifteen when I held a knife up to Emilio’s throat and told him to get fucked. While Emilio was physically abusive to me, he was also mentally. My disability makes him believe I’m some sort of special needs charity case. That I’ll end up being nothing but someone who needs to be told what to do instead of the other way around.

I got an ounce of respect out of him that day. And I also got my ass stomped on the floor by him and his boys.

“What’s it gonna take?” I press, glimpsing over my shoulder just to land on those full, pink lips of hers.

I like that she doesn’t wear a lot of makeup. I like that she doesn’t show fear and if we weren’t in this position, I’d probably not mind her running her mouth so much.

Her voice is sterile when she says, “A hundred grand.”

And my face drops.

Is she fucking serious?

“I can make you disappear for less,” I reply, stabbing a crouton with my fork.

This girl is dangerous with a hidden agenda.

I don’t trust her; therefore, I’ll break her down until she can’t crawl back anymore. Especially since her name has been in Matteo De Leon’s mouth as of late and that fucking prick is on borrowed time right now. I’m not sure yet if Wallace and De Leon are working together or if Matteo is still just running his mouth.

“And I have a whole ocean with your name on it, Pretty Boy. The only reason you’re alive…is because I kept you that way.”

“Did you? How much power do you really hold?”

Bay’s weight pushes into mine and she turns her head as if she’s looking behind us at something. “More than you think.”

Then her tongue darts out to lick my earlobe, smelling of motor oil and lavender, I think, and I fight back a shudder that wants to take over my whole body.

My cock twitches in my jeans, and I push through a suspended exhale that seized up in my chest.

And that’s it.

I don’t know if she spoke any words afterward before she’s pulling away from me again as I force my brain to go back to fully operational.

“Hey, Bay Bay McQueen.” I slice my focus up to see my best friend, Reeve, standing on the other side of the table, staring dreamily at Bay. “It’s been a minute.”

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