Page 42 of InfraRed

“You know,” I mutter, my eyes drifting to the side because staring into his dark ones is just too much. “But I only use it on my calves and feet after dance.”

His head tilts, the smirk still wide as his tongue runs over teeth. “I’ll have to rectify that.”

My hands land against his chest with a thud. “Oh, no. I don’t know what came over me earlier, but that won’t happen again. It can’t.”

The smirk drops and darkness swirls. He really can’t stand being told no. “Why? Because you don’t want it? Or because of Liam?”

“Both. I-I got caught up for a moment. I’m sorry, but I don’t want you. If everything you said was true—”

“It was true, Casey.”

“Ifit was true,” I repeat, refusing to get caught up again. Refusing to allow myself to believe we could ever be more than… well, anything. “Then just forget it and let it go. You forgot about me four years ago. Just do that again.”

He jerks back, the darkness swirling his deep-set gaze turns to regret. “Do you think that, Sunflower? You think I forgot about you?”It’s not what I think, it’s what I know.But I don’t say it. I just lift my shoulder. “I didn’t fucking forget about you, Casey, and I promise it wasn’t for lack of trying.”

“Okay, Graham,” I whisper, agreeing so he will leave. “I believe you, but I need you to forget about me now. And I need you to go.”

He steps back some more, and I feel like I can breathe. The muscles in his jaw twitch, and the tendons in his neck strain. Thick lashes sweep across his cheeks as he takes a deep breath. He turns and heads for the door, and I breathe in relief and disappointment, making my head pound.

Before he reaches the door, he spins on his heel. I don’t even have time to question what’s happening before his lips descend on mine. When he pulls away again, he presses his forehead to mine. “I’d sooner forget my own name than you. You are in my blood and bones, Casey, and you have been for a long fucking time.” He pauses, raking his eyes over me, making me shiver. “But I’m not wasting my time arguing with you.”

I swallow the heartbreak and confusion his words cause and nod. “G-good because won’t help.”

He grins. “You misunderstand, Sunflower. I’m not wasting my time because you’re mine. You were mine before I knew I needed you. So get on board.” He lifts a shoulder and chuckles. “Or don’t. Because it’s already done.” He kisses my head and turns back toward the door. “See you soon, Sunflower.”

Graham

The smell of freshly baked croissants swirls in the air, making my stomach growl loudly as I walk down the stairs to the second floor. The echo of my steps is drowned out by the shrill voice of a soul-sucking fuck hole throwing a tantrum. The door is wide open, and every word from her mouth is laid out for the entire staff to hear. Not that it matters at this point. The media has latched onto her story like the leeches they are.

A smile spreads across my face as I think about the latest headlines because they have not bought her story of it being an accident. They’ve painted her as the psychopath she is. People who haveworkedfor her have come forward with stories of abuse. A few disgruntled wives have let the world know how much of a slut she is. There have even been a few anonymous tellings about less-than-legal propositions she’s made. I’m not shocked about any of it.

I hate it for my dad, but I’m not sorry she’s been outed for the bitch she is. She’s made him a laughingstock. He keeps his phone turned off lately, and he seldom leaves the house because reporters follow him everywhere. He doesn’t deserve it, but he was warned about her repeatedly throughout the years. He never listened until she got pregnant last year.

Casey is the one I’m most concerned about. Her name hasn’t been mentioned, but she must see the headlines. I know it hurts her to see everything about her egg donor splashed in theheadlines.

I lean against the door frame, trying my best to ignore the hideous abstract bullshit hanging on the walls and the monstrous electric blue furniture that looks like it’s meant to be a torture device spread across the room. I watch her hands flailing in the air, and she paces back and forth in front of the glass and gold desk as she throws her fit.

“They want me to take a plea deal, Maxwell!” she screeches. “Their job is to get me out of these ludicrous charges. It was an accident!” I snort because only Krista would thinkaccidentallyrunning over your ex-husband isn’t a punishable offense. It doesn’t even occur to her she fucked herself when she not only refused to stop but hid the damn car for weeks. She spins, realizing I’m here. Her blue eyes narrow with venom. I have no doubt she’d stab me in the face if she thought she could. “Get out!”

“Nah. I’m good. Please continue explaining how the charges are ludicrous.” I wave for her to carry on.

Her face turns crimson, and she raises a finger, pointing at me. “Maxwell, I told you I want him out of this house. Either he goes or I’ll…”

I push off the door frame, and my steps echo over the marble floor as I stalk toward her until I’m right in her face. “Or you’llwhat,Krista? Leave? Where are you going to go?”

“Do you think I have nowhere else? I’ll take Noah, and you will never see me again.” The corner of her mouth turns up with the threat.

“Please, Krista. You’re a liability. No one will touch you.” I turn and gesture toward the door. “But feel free to extract yourself from our lives. No one will miss you. I’ll help you pack.”

“Graham,” Dad says with a warning. I’m calling Krista’s bluff.Dad is terrified she’ll leave and take the baby that he’s devoted himself to for the last six months, but I know she’s not going anywhere. “That’s enough.”

“I want him gone, Maxwell. He has no reason to be here.”

“I could say the same for you, Krista. Why are you here? Oh, wait. That’s right. The alimony got cut off when your buddy admitted she set Dad up. That he never cheated on you. But you couldn’t say the same, could you? You didn’t even know who the father of your baby was, did you? And then he’s born, and you’ve used that baby like you used Casey because it’s my Dad’s grandson, and he can’t stomach not ensuring he’s cared for even if Jagger wants nothing to do with it, you, and now his own father because you raped him.”

“I did not!” she screams. “You can’t rape a man. He was hard. He wanted me.”

“He was drunk and rolling, trying to sleep it off in a pitch-black room. But you knew that, didn’t you? Even though you weren’t even supposed to be there. It’s why you tied him up. I just can’t figure out why in the fuck you did it?” The question makes my brain itch, but I’ve refused to scratch it. “But then you got pregnant and knew when Dad found out what happened, he’d kick you to the curb. So you tried to set up the one guy you knew would step up. Especially when rumors were swirling his friends owned the label now. How am I doing so far?”

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