Page 33 of Fractured Fear

One. Two. Three. Four—hold. Feel the memories.

One. Two. Three. Four—breathe out. Breathe out the past. Breathe out the regret.

Feeling my panic subside, I open my eyes and find myself back at the bar. Rio on one side and Zane on the other, boxing me in. Not in a way that feels claustrophobic, but a way that feels comforting.

He’s just a man. He can’t hurt me.

I sit down and Jerry gets me another drink. Staring at it, I wonder if I just give in then maybe the pain will go away. The worry, the exhaustion. I could so easily just slip into a state of numbness, but I know that won’t change anything. I’ll still be here, wondering ifhewill ever show up.

“You okay, Angel?” Zane’s hand lifts my chin tilting my head to meet his assessing gaze.

“Oh my God!” Iris squeals in my ears behind me and spins my stool to face her.

My face pinches. “Too high-pitched. Please come back to normal human volumes.”

I look at Iris and see her staring at the men on either side of me and then it hits me. Zane and Rio are here.Here. At Moonlit.

Did they know I was going to be here? Or are they just out to blow off some steam on a Saturday night? Are they planning on taking someone home?

A green haze coats my body, and I’m assaulted with violent images of what I would do to the women they took home tonight.

The jealousy leaves as swiftly as it came, and shock mars my face. It may appear as shock due to Rio and Zane’s attendance, but it’s actually due to how dark my brain went. For a second, I actually thought I could do those things to someone.

I remind myself that they’re not mine and I’m not theirs. I will admit here and now—but never again—that I’m attracted to both of them. I’ve even had hot dreams about both of them, but I have no claim over them…and I never will.

I need to take my feelings I have towards them, shove it in a box, and lock it behind a thick steel door.

“They came! I told Zane, but wow. I can’t believe he brought the other one too.” She talks as if they can’t hear every word she’s saying.

“You told them?”

“Only Zane. But hey, now there’s two. Double the glaze.”

My eyes widen in alarm. I can’t believe she just said that in front of them. She must be more drunk than I thought. “For the love of femininity! I do not need to get laid.”

“You absolutely do. When you do, you’ll thank me, especially if it’s one of them. Or both,” she says with a wink then sashays away leaving me gaping after her.

Hiding my face, I pray that when I turn back around Zane and Rio will have disappeared. If they were smart, they would book it, lose my number, and never talk to me again. I would even give Zane a full refund for Rio’s pottery lessons.

But when I turn, they’re not gone. They’re still here, asses happily planted in their seats.

Two sets of heated eyes lock on my face and trail down my body.

What the fuck am I doing?

CHAPTER 13

SPENCER

Rio’s focus doesn't stray from the attire that I’m regretting all over again. “Nice dress.”

My insides drop and do a little dance at the same time while I stare into my drink. My lungs don’t have air and I’m not angry about it.

Zane has done nothing but purchase lessons for his friend and walk around my gallery.

He also brought you lunch almost every day.

Shut up.

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