Page 51 of Fire for Effect

“You’ve never given me a present before.”

He truly hadn’t. Unless it was buying drinks, or a meal, he’d never gotten me a gift. I tried to think of his truck as a present, when I was down and needed to make myself feel special. But it wasn’t. It was a loaner.

“Maybe not,” he said, his thumb caressing the soft underside of my forearm. “But I don’t do a whole lot without thinking of you.”

I wasn’t totally sure if that was true. I was about to retort when he silenced me with a kiss.

A Guerro and a Griffith. There was no world where that combination would ever work. But I also had no choice.

No one stood up to Kai Griffith. No one ever won against him. If he wanted me, even for just now, then I would be his until he threw me away. Just like all the other women he had after Kristin… after me. Adoring women who stared at him like he hung the moon, and each one was forgotten in the months when his interest turned elsewhere.

He’d hurt me. But at least he’d only hurt my heart. So that was better… right? If I could survive Heath, I could survive this.

But Griff was there to be your friend after Heath. Who will help pick you up when he gets rid of you?

No more birthday calls. No more exchanging keys. No more borrowing his truck for years on end… I’d be well and truly alone.

“The bracelet looks good,” Griff said, with a small smile.

I nodded, and quietly thanked him, holding back my sorrow.

“I mean it, Taz,” Griff said. “Get rid of him.”

“I will.”

I slipped out of his grasp and immediately let the tears fall.

I had to be strong in front of Griff. I couldn’t let him see me as the pathetic piece of shit I was. But I felt no such strength against Riley.

I didn’t bother with shoes as I went out to meet the blue Camaro, its headlights cutting through the morning mist.

He jumped out of the driver’s seat, as he walked towards me. I stepped into the dirt, feeling the sharp stones beneath my heel.

“Hey! The fire’s out, and I just wanted to check that you made it home alright.” His voice weakened at the end, trailing off as he took me in. “You okay?”

I was crying still, I think. I saw a tear drop down to the ground.

“Trinity… are you in trouble?”

“I’m sorry Riley, but I can’t see you anymore.”

He stopped, one boot halting before it came down on the ground.

“Trinity…” He looked down at my feet and gasped. “Jesus, you’re not wearing shoes. The ground is freezing!”

He reached out, probably to pick me up, but I flinched away. “You should go.”

Riley was a smart man. Sharp as a tack. He looked around and saw the Maybach beside the truck. Both vehicles belonged to Griff.

It didn’t take him long to figure it out.

“Is he listening right now?” Riley said, quieter. “Is he making you say this?”

I shook my head.

He was listening. But I wasn’t saying this because of him. I was saying it because of me.

I tried, I really did. But I couldn’t even keep my eyes on Riley when Griff was around. What did that say about me? That I went for the man who browbeat me into being his, and not the one who showed me kindness?

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