Page 114 of Pretty Little Lies

He kicks a leg over his opposite leg from my peripheral, and I crack the lid off my bottle. “It’s Bay.”

I can’t help the exasperated sigh that leaves my lips, because that seems to be the ongoing issue, problem, mind-fuck, emo-filled state of the century tonight.

“She’s fine,” I deadpan.

“I’ve been here before, Torin. You get in too deep, and then you can’t find your way out. You start doing crazy things to make them stay.”

“I’m not doing anything.”

“You’ve forced Wallace and Bay’s relationship to crumble.”

“You’re welcome.”

“That causes problems.”

I lift a brow. “You’re really buying that?”

Because I’m not fully convinced that my little escape artist is forever and fully done with Wallace.

Those two have been bound at the ass for years.

“Whether I buy it or not isn’t what I’m concerned about,” Emilio emits. “And I couldn’t give a fuck about it. What I do, is the future I’m laying out for her. The one that she will fall in line with. However, our relationship isn’t moving fast enough.”

“Maybe she’s waiting for you to buy her a pony like every other little girl wants from their father.” I pull the bourbon to my lips, but steal a glance at the old man. “Give it time.”

That’s bullshit and we both know it.

Emilio’s jaw grows taut, but he doesn’t bark out like I expect him to. No, he’s all business now. “Your brother was supposed to have the Titan spot, but we both are fully aware that Ramsey was never built for the position. The Titan seat was kept warm for him while I wanted for him to come back home and claim it. But he never did. Then he died, thanks to you.”

The glass bottle in my hand is immediately tossed over my shoulder because there goes that outlet.

I’ve calmly steered clear of this argument for years. I’ve been blamed, accused, bullied, and shunned because of it. As if I was the one who convinced my brother to fuck off and get himself into some shit.

“One more time,” I practically snarl through my tightening jaw right after the glass shatters along my hardwood floors. “I don’t think I heard you correctly.”

“You heard me perfectly clear,” Emilio professes haughtily. “Lennox was supposed to sit on my seat, and I was left with a fucking animal and a boy who couldn’t hear a train coming.”

I should kill this motherfucker right here.

I could discreetly get him out of here. Drop him in the middle of the ocean with a cement block tied to his leg.

However, that causes more potential problems.

Or maybe solutions.

“If you’re here to drudge up old arguments,” I rebuke placidly, “then you can get the fuck out of my place.”

“Focus,” he orders with a scowl. “You know what this means now. And I know how you are.”

“Spit it out, old man,” I snap, wishing that I hadn’t just thrown my bourbon to the floor. “I don’t have time for riddles and games right now.”

“I need you to marry Bay.”

Reeve’s head immediately snaps up from behind Emilio at the same time my heart stops.

Fuck.

That was thelastthing I expected to come out of his mouth, for one. Two, it was the last person I wanted him to say that in front of.

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