Page 62 of My Wife

And it infuriates me that it wasn’t my choice. Not really.

They took the choice away from me. If I knew my options, would there ever havebeena choice?

I know the answer to that. And now it’s time I’m going to makethemchoose.

One night. I let them have their one night. But if these men loved me as much as they claim, if I’m their obsession—their possession—like they think… they should’ve known me better.

They should’ve known that I need to be number one.

Tommy Gillis and Clayton Rivers are best friends. They planned this,plottedit, and executed it. Not only that, but they executed the mean girls, the bullies from my past, the asshole who sexually assaulted me in high school. Anyone who knows what happened to Caroline Preston is worm food now, and I’m facing off against the two men I’ve ever loved. Two men who were so desperate to have me, they concocted this scheme to manipulate me, to gaslight me, to put me through hell itself just so they could both claim me in the end.

But I don’t share—and it’s time they understood that.

I smile, tucking a lock of my still-damp hair behind my ear. “Yeah? Then prove it.”

Tommy’s expression turns puzzled. “Cyn? What are you saying?”

“You love me. But you love each other, too.”

That’s undeniable. Only a deep bond like the one that Clayton Rivers and Tommy Gillis has would have allowed them to spend ten fucking years on a plan that ended with both of them having the one thing they wanted:me. Screw their plan. Why do they get what they want?

What about me?

“I want that love,” I tell them simply. “I deserve it. And the loyalty… you killed for me. Protected my secrets. But that’s not enough.”

It’s never been enough. Not for someone like I am. Broken. Twisted. Selfish.

Demanding.

“One of you has to love me most of all,” I purr. “More than yourself. More than your best friend.” Now I shrug, dropping my hands to my waist, fisting my hips as I dare them both: “Prove it.”

Clay understands what I’m saying first. His cheeks hollow as he sucks in a breath, but he doesn’t say a word. Not to Tommy.Not to me. Instead, he twitches his fingers, then unsheathes his knife.

And then it happens, and my girlish heart fucking squeals.

My husband spins on his heel, slashing out with the blade. It drags across his best friend’s throat, leaving an open gash in its wake.

“Sorry, Tommy,” Clay utters, voice entirely flat as the blood starts to spill. “But I was an only child, too.”

It takes Tommy a second to notice what happened. That’s how quick Clay struck. No wonder he was able to take down each of the island’s guests one by one without any trouble. With reflexes honed from years of athletics, and instincts that belong to a born killer, he not only sliced without hesitation. He did it so effortlessly, Tommy’s only reaction is to reach for this throat while stumbling toward me.

“Would’ve waited…” He gasps, blood bubbling in the corner of his mouth as he drops to his knees, still clutching his throat. “Forever.”

This is because of me. Looking away from the absolute proof of Clayton’s jealousy and possessiveness… I won’t do that. Just like how I didn’t even blink until my mother stopped thrashing under the water, I’ll witness Tommy’s death, too.

I step toward him at the same time as Clay steps back, allowing me to approach the dying man, and stroke his jaw when I’m near enough to touch him. “I know, Tommy. But you never got it, did you? I made my promise. I made my vow. It’s ‘til death do we part for Clay and me, and not even him being dead could make me stop loving him. You would’ve waited forever?—”

He’s gurgling.Choking. Once I take my hand back, he jerks, like he’s trying to keep the connection, but I’m already at Clay’s side. I lay my hand on his elbow right as Tommy falls forward, then flops onto his back, twitching as he dies.

Itsk, only a tiny bit remorseful.

“—but I already promised it to someone else.”

TWENTY

FOR YOU

And then there were two.

---