Page 1 of The Penalty

Xavier

“It’s cute that you thought this would go any other way.”

Jordan’s smug expression set off an explosion of rage within me. I squeezed the tumbler of whisky so tight I was surprised it didn’t crack in my hand.

We were seated upstairs in the VIP section of his favorite gentleman’s club, meaning we had our own private area with a scantily clad hostess tending to our every need. And I mean every need.

Pretty. Blonde. More Cade’s type than mine since she was barely twenty.

“The night is young,” I retorted, swallowing the drink.

“The Maddox arrogance. Like father, like son.”

A sardonic grin curled my lips. “One of my better qualities.”

Jordan leered at the young woman while she refilled my glass. Calling him a womanizer was too kind. He was a predator.

“Why’d you ask me out on a date, Xavier? We haven’t spoken or seen one another in years. You’ve always seemed to be the love ‘em and leave ‘em type. Not sure I’m interested. I’m a sensitive girl.”

I wanted to rip the smile off his face. He’s the last person I want to see. Unfortunately for him, and me, this was how it had to be.

I didn’t leave Victoria behind in New York to not deal with this piece of shit.

“There are a few things I need to make clear to you.”

“Clear how? Like the night you overreacted when you found Millie with me? How is she doing these days?”

Anger streaked through my veins. He regarded me pleasantly enough but the distain simmering in his eyes was unmistakable.

“We both know my actions were justified. But I’m not here to rehash the past. At least not that night.”

“Oh?” He cocked his head to the side. “Is there another blissful walk down memory lane you want to take? The time you stole my fiancée?” His eyes slid across my scar. “Bennet’s party, perhaps?”

“I think you know that story well enough,” I replied coldly. “I was thinking about the bonfire we all went to. Ring a bell?”

An oily smile tugged at his mouth. “I went to so many. You’ll have to be more specific.”

I finished the whisky and waited patiently for our hostess to refill my glass. She stood to my left, putting her directly in front of another languid stare. But she ignored Jordan’s less than subtle intentions and looked at me with come-hither eyes.

I drank the whisky immediately and covered the empty glass with my hand, signaling I was finished.

“We’re good for now,” I told her. “If you wouldn’t mind leaving us for a little while.”

She offered an emotionless smile and left the area. Jordan scowled.

“I paid to have her all night.”

“You’ll live.”

Part of me wanted to tear into Jordan about the night I was jumped at Bennet’s party. Maybe I’ll do it anyway. Might as well fire all my ammunition at once. See how indestructible he really is.

“While you try to figure out what you want to say, I noticed you’re involved with someone again. An American?”

The muscle in my jaw twitched. He straightened his cufflinks.

“None of your business,” I warned.

“So proper. When did you stop bragging—”

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