Page 58 of Shattered

Alek

I didn’t know what was worse.The fact Sara went behind my back when I specifically warned her to stay away from Cameron, or the fact he had the fucking balls to approach my woman.Again.

To say I was angry was an understatement.I’d calmed down from our previous argument and was going to call her after my afternoon meeting let out.I could never stay upset with her for long, especially since our whole fight started because of me and my failure to tell her about Cora.

But then Brian called me with some interesting information.I’d hired the man to keep a close watch on Cameron, knowing he would try some slick shit like that.I just didn’t know it’d be so soon.

I flung open the driver’s side door then slammed it so hard I thought the glass was going to shatter into a million pieces.

“Sara!What the hell?” I shouted, walking quickly toward her.I must have given her quite the shock because her hand was still splayed over her heart.

I was next to her instantly, looming over her and pushing into her personal space.She appeared as if she was on the brink of crying, but after a few deep breaths, she tried her best to appear unaffected.As if she had done nothing wrong.

The more silence stretched between us, the more upset I was becoming.Is she going to try and lie to me?She has to know I know.Why else would I be so upset?

“Are you going to answer me, Sara?What the hell are you up to?What were you thinking?”My fists curled at my sides, the need to bash my cousin’s face in almost too much.

With a calm, controlled voice, she finally spoke.Placing her hand on my arm, she said, “Alek, can we please not do this in the middle of the—”

I cut her off before she finished her sentence.“You don’t want to do this in the middle of the goddamn street?Fine, let’s go.”I reached for her hand and quickly dragged her to my car, coaxing her into the passenger seat before slamming the door.Inhaling some much needed air, I slowed during the walk around to my side of the car.I had to calm the hell down before I actually scared her.It was the last thing either one of us needed.I would never hurt Sara, not in a million years, but the way I was feeling right then was proving volatile.

Once I was situated, I turned my hot gaze on her.“I told you to stay away from him, and you didn’t listen to me.Why?Why did you go see him?Tell me.”My tempo rose with each question I asked, her silence only spurring me further.Why isn’t she yelling or at least trying to defend herself?Where is the Sara I know who wouldn’t take any of my shit?

When she still didn’t answer me, I lost it, punching the steering wheel and exploding with a string of expletives.My episode lasted a whole five seconds, but it was enough to kick her out of whatever fog she’d been in.

Finally, she answered.“He came by the shop and asked to meet me because he was concerned about you.”Her tone was flat when she spoke.It was so unlike her.

“He came into your shop?How did he know where to find you?”My last question was rhetorical.I was sure Cameron had plenty of ways of finding out information.I knew he would try to get to her.He’d been trying to pay me back for years, using the excuse I stole his goddamn girlfriend.Never mind he was just an all-around bastard.“Jesus Christ, Sara!What the hell were you thinking?” I repeated.

“I was thinking he was being truthful when he told me he was concerned about you and wanted to talk.”A little bit of the fire came back into her voice when she answered me.

“Well, what did he say?What was the big revelation?”I was continuing to take deep breaths, bringing my rage under a manageable control.

“It turns out all he was doing was trying to pay you back for…”She trailed off.

“For what?For me sleeping with his girlfriend…ten years ago?Is that what he said?Was that his reason?”

“Yes.” She looked out the window at the people walking by.Her shoulders were slumped, and I hated she looked so defeated.But she had to take me seriously when I asked her to stay away from certain people.

“Well, did he tell you he already exacted his revenge?Did he tell you he was the one Cora had the affair with?Huh?Did he fucking tell you that, Sara?”

Her face scrunched, knowing she was smack-dab in the middle of our twisted feud.His supposed girlfriend Istolehad gone out with him for a month.She realized what an ass he was, broke up with him and hooked up with me a week later.I hadn’t even known they were together, but there was no explaining that to Cameron.So here we are now, ten long years later.

“Yeah, I didn’t think so.How about the next time I tell you something, you listen to me.Stop going against me, Sara, or else.”I knew my last sentence was the wrong thing to say, but I couldn’t stop myself.

Her shoulders squared and her back straightened.She turned toward me and let loose.“Fuck you, Alek.I only met with him because I care about you.I really did believe him when he told me he was concerned.It’s not my fault you guys are caught up in some twisted, ongoing vendetta.And by the way, how the hell did you even know I met with him?Did you have someone watching me?”

“No!” I shouted.“I have someone watchinghim, not you.Besides, don’t turn this around on me.You’re the one clearly in the wrong here.”

Taking a deep breath, she exhaled and her whole body deflated, although the tone in her voice remained strong.“Well, I wouldn’t want you to be subjected to my presence any further then.”She reached for the handle and sternly said, “And don’t even think about following me.”Before I could speak, she jumped out and slammed her door, walking back toward her shop.

We needed the space apart in order for both of us to calm down, so I turned the engine over and sped away.

~~~~

The rest of my day flew by, meeting after meeting keeping me busy.I was thankful for the distraction, but eventually, I was going to have to call her.Truth was, I didn’t want to continue to argue, but she had to know how serious I was.Even though I hadn’t really loved Cora, the fact she fucked my cousin was a blow to my ego, and I didn’t want Sara anywhere near all that mess.

I acted harshly with her earlier, even though I was justified in my actions.In my own head, at least.Before I even thought about ending the argument, my cell rang.

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