Page 33 of Bells

“Me either,” he muttered. “And I know Ashes doesn’t, and Ashes tries to be fair about everyone.”

I nodded. He was right. Ashes did try to see the good in people.

“I don’t have a plan. I just need to figure out what the fuck we’re going to do.” I rubbed my eyes. “He loves her.”

“I know. I don’t see how he could. She’s a bitch.”

I let out a grunt. That she was.

We fell into silence as we continued to watch Ashes build an impressive fire in his metal barrel. He danced around it and whooped. His euphoria for building a fire was usually contagious, but tonight I wasn’t feeling it.

Instead, I let my mind wander back to that afternoon on the patio when Sin had left to clean himself up after I’d found him fucking her.

“Did you like watching?” Isabella asked as she moved to stand beside me at the railing.

“I didn’t see much.” I raked my gaze over her. Her skin was still flushed from being with Sin.

She smiled up at me as she rested her hand over mine. “We’re alone again. I could give you a first-hand account.”

“You think I can fuck in less than five minutes?” I smirked down at her. “That’s not really my style.”

“You could make an exception.”

“Not really in the mood.”

She jutted her bottom lip out at me. “What can I do—”

“Nothing. I told you I was in charge. If it happens, it happens.”

She visibly swallowed. “I want to be in charge.”

“That’s not how shit works with me. You should know that. You’re just pussy to me. I can get that anywhere, anytime. The only reason I’m even entertaining the idea is because of Sin. Don’t get your pussy wet thinking it’s because of anything to do with you. My family comes first. Women come second. If I even let them.”

Her nostrils flared and her cheeks darkened at my words.

“We’d be good together. Your father—”

I jerked my hand out and wrapped it tightly around her throat. “Why the fuck are you talking to me about my father? What’s he got to do with any of this?”

“N-nothing. I-I just heard you were like him. I-I thought m-maybe I could help you.”

I released her and shot her a sour look. “I’m nothing like him. You’re more like him than I am.”

She visibly swallowed. “Church, I just want you—”

“We don’t always get what we want,” I snapped.

She opened her mouth to answer, her dark eyes shimmering with tears that did nothing to my emotions because, seriously, fuck her.

Sin had returned only seconds later, ending the conversation. Everything I’d said was true. I wasn’t interested in her at all. She was conniving and unhinged. While I enjoyed crazy, I preferred if it were me who was steering the crazy train, not some bitch trying to get some cock.

If Sin wanted to play out this little fantasy, I’d do it. No problem. No questions asked. I had been suspicious already, but once she mentioned my father that was it. I had held off on all of it before though to see how it would play out.

So far, it seemed my suspicions may be right. Something wasn’t adding up.

Now this shit.

“We need to get rid of her,” Stitches said.

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