Page 27 of Shattered

If I don’t calm down, I’m going to give myself a stroke.

They were so engaged in their little conversation, neither one of them saw me approach. Standing directly behind her, my anger bristled within me again, breaking free and rearing its ugly head.

“Are you done?” I seethed, obvious disdain dripping on every word. I was leaning so close to her I knew she felt my breath on her neck.But I also knew she felt the rage emanating off me.She jumped at my words but never turned around.My eyes shot to Cameron, giving him such a nasty look I was surprised he was still sitting there.If looks could kill, he would have keeled over and ceased to exist.And I wouldn’t be sorry.Not for one goddamn second.

I was about to say something else when Sara spoke.“No, actually I amnotdone, Alek.Why don’t you go back to letting Jacinda hang all over you, and I’ll continue my conversation with Cameron.”

What the fuck is she talking about?And how dare she sit there and compare the two.Jacinda was harmless, and I knew how to handle her.Cameron, on the other hand, was a snake.He was predatory and an all-around asshole.

But he wasn’t stupid.He and I both knew I could do some real damage if he continued pursuing Sara.

Not even responding to her ludicrous statement, I decided to commandeer the unfolding situation in front of me.“Cameron, I suggest you leave us.Now!” I yelled.I didn’t care who saw or heard me.My only objective was getting her alone and away from him.

“It was great talking to you, Sara.”He placed his drink on the bar.“See you later,” he said as he retreated.

“No, you fucking won’t,” I threatened through clenched teeth.The bastard actually had the balls to snicker as he walked away.Oh, just wait until I see you again.

No longer allowing her to keep her back turned, I grabbed her shoulders and spun her around on her barstool.“Are you out of your mind, Sara?I told you to stay away from him.But of course, you didn’t listen.”If a person could actually spit nails that would’ve been the time it would occur.

“We were only talking.I didn’t see any harm in conversing with him, especially since you seemed to have your hands full withthatwoman.”

“I can’t help it if Jacinda was standing near me.What was I supposed to do?Tell her to take a hike, right there in front of everyone?It would have caused an unnecessary scene.”

Her face turned red.Clearly she was as heated as I was.“She wasn’tjuststanding next to you, Alek, and you know it.She was pawing you, constantly rubbing your arm and acting like you two were together.”

“I honestly didn’t think anything of it.I’m so used to Jacinda’s antics I don’t even give her a second thought.Mainly because I couldn’t care less about her or what she’s doing.I told you repeatedly I’m not interested in her.Not even the tiniest bit.”

Sara quickly rose from her chair.We were so close she actually had to look up at me.The look on her face would have been amusing had I not been enraged myself.

“How would you feel if Cameron was constantly touching me?Running his hands all over my body.I have zero interest in him, so would that be acceptable?”She was pushing me over the edge and she knew it.

“I don’t even want him looking at you, let alone touching you.So no, Sara, not only is that not acceptable, it’s ill-advised.Not unless you want to visit me behind bars.”

“Then maybe you should keep that in mind the next time you let her rub against you.”

She tried to walk away then, her face becoming more red the longer we argued.Our voices weren’t raised, but if anyone paid us any attention they would surely see we were definitely involved in a heated discussion.A lover’s quarrel.

I reached for her wrist and pulled her back into me.“Where are you going?”

“Not that it’s any of your business, but I’m going to the bathroom.Now, let go of me beforeIcause a scene.”

I knew I was being an ass, but my anger hadn’t fizzled yet.“Everything you do is my business, Sara.I don’t want to argue with you anymore tonight.I’ve had my say and it’s finished.”

I abruptly let go of her arm and turned around toward the bartender.

~12~

Sara

How dare he dismiss me the way he did.Who does he think he is?

The whole time I was in the restroom, I tried feverishly to control my emotions.Calm and level-headed were two words that accurately described me.Normally.But whenever Alek twisted me all up inside, I was anything but.

His words kept running through my mind.“Everything you do is my business, Sara.I don’t want to argue with you anymore tonight.I’ve had my say and it’s finished.”The more I repeated them, the angrier I became.

But it wasn’t the time or place to discuss it with him.Granted, I didn’t listen to him when he told me to stay away from Cameron, but I was a grown woman.I could talk to whomever I wanted, warning or not.

Truth be told, I’d been willing to appease him by steering clear of his cousin, but as soon as I saw how he was acting with Jacinda, or rather how he’d allowed her to act with him¸ I was livid.

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