Page 142 of As the World Falls

He shakes his head, the muscle in his jaw clenching. “Two very different things, babe. One matters, and the other is useless and about to become fertilizer for my garden if he doesn’t quit showing up at my house. In fact, I’m alerting security that he’s no longer allowed for visitations.”

I press my lips together in frustration, counting to ten in my head before I speak again. “You trust me, right? I trust you, which is why I’m even letting you meet with Hodge in the first place.”

He steps closer, his eyes penetrating me like impatient orbs ready to crack. “It’s him I don’t trust, Cecilia. Also, let me remind you that you don’tletme do anything. I call the shots around here, and that fuckwit isn’t coming inside.”

I step toward him now, looking up at him with defiance. “I’m glad you think that, but this is my home now, too, and you don’t rule me, James. It’s bestyouremember that.”

His right eyebrow jumps like he’s impressed, but I don’t get to decipher his expression anymore because he’s grabbing my throat with his hand and slamming my back to the wall, his mouth dropping to mine and kissing me like a starved animal.

My hands wrap around his neck and pull him closer until there’s no space between us. Our chests crash simultaneously with our lips, and when I feel like I can’t breathe anymore, he releases me.

He keeps his hand wrapped around my throat as he stares me down. “You guys have thirty minutes to resolve your differences. No more, or I’ll send Marco to toss him out and make sure he isn’t gentle about it.

I smile, leaning up on my toes to peck him again. “It was a pleasure doing business with you, Mr. Kingston.”

He shakes his head. “I’m calling your brother from my car and making sure he’s on his way for extra insurance.”

“Fine. Fine. But you be careful too, please. I don’t trust Hodge. "

He nods, smirking at me before he opens the door again. “We’ll both meet back here after our business.”

“Deal,” I agree.

James opens the door and looks at Lance, whose head bounces up to meet his gaze. “If you touch her, I will kill you. If you get too close to her, I will kill you. If you hurt her feelings again or upset her anyway, I will kill you. Do you understand me?” James rasps.

“Uhm… sure,” Lance replies hesitantly.

James looks back at me one more time before leaving. He leans in and kisses the side of my neck, causing goosebumps to spread uncontrollably over my skin. “I’ll be back in an hour,” he chimes, facing Lance with a death glare. He finally goes to his car and leaves.

I anxiously look back to Lance, whose eyes are cast downward now as if he doesn’t want to see me here with James.

“I guess come inside.”

He cautiously walks inside, his curious gaze bouncing around the expanse of the place, much like the first time he came here and visited. I could tell he was judging it, comparing it to his apartment and making assumptions that no one needs this big of a home.

I didn’t care, though. James and I needed the space because we were going to fill it with so much love. I was sure about that.

I lead us into the living room and gesture for him to sit down. He sits on the sofa, and I sit in a separate chair opposite him. He looks around again before his gaze finally falls on me. “So, how are you doing?” he asks nervously.

“I’m great,” I tell him honestly.

He nods unsurprised. “I figured as much.”

He doesn’t say anything after that. Instead, he stares at me like he’s waiting for me to ask how he is. I found that I honestly didn’t care how he’d been after he’d said the things he’d said and his mother’s visit. It was a strange feeling, looking at someone I’ve known and loved for so long and not feeling a damn thing. It’s funny how betrayal works.

“What do you want to talk about?” I ask, jumping right into it. It was early in the morning, for heaven's sake. I wasn’t even dressed for the day yet.

“I just wanted to say how sorry I was. I want things to be like they were before I got all…jealous.”

I shake my head, feeling like that scenario is too far away now. “I don’t know if we can get back to that place. I’ll admit that I struggle to let go of you because you’ve been such a stable presence in my life for so long, but you’ve said and done things I don’t know I can move on from. I don’t trust you anymore.”

His legs bounce in place as he sits, watching me. I didn’t know if it was because he was anxious or desperate, but he seemed suddenly unsettled, which unsettled me.

“But we can try, right?” he asks. “I mean, you wouldn’t just give up on us?”

“I don’t know, Lance. I don’t see how our friendship could work with everything. I don’t feel safe around you now, and you clearly despise James. He is always a second away from wanting to kill you. It’s all just too much.”

He scoffs, dramatically ripping his gaze from me and staring at his bouncing feet. “So that’s it? You’re choosing him over me for good?” His voice is shaky and comes out deeper as if his emotions are getting the better of him. I glance at the clock on the wall, noting he’s already been here for fifteen minutes, and I decide I don’t need to do another fifteen.

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