Page 27 of The Bourbon Bargain

“Get a fucking room. You guys are disgusting,” she huffs, dismissing us and turning away to scan the room for her next mark.

“Not as disgusting as your behavior,” I mutter, hoping it won’t carry.

Liliana whips around and glares at me. “What was that, slut?” she says, her eyes narrowing and her words sharpening.

This feels like high school all over again, and I can’t help retreating into myself, trying to become a smaller target. I swallow the lump in my throat, wondering why I had to goad her when I could have let it be. She was done with us, and I got her attention again.

I glance at Hayes and his eyes are sharp, appraising the situation. He’s letting me take the lead, but I can feel him ready to jump on this and end it for me if needed. I shake my head, warning him off, because I dug this hole myself and I might as well straighten my spine and tell Liliana what I have thought of her for so many years now that I’ve opened the door.

“You are a disgusting bully who puts others down so you can feel bigger. I don’t know why you can’t leave behind the judgment you thought was yours to cast in high school,” I say, my voice high, and a little shaky.

It’s not easy for me to be confrontational, and Liliana has been a tormentor for so long that I’ve made her into this giant in my head that I could never conquer. It’s about time I tried to slay the dragon, even if it takes every ounce of strength I can muster just to take the first charge at her.

“That’s rich, coming from the most disgusting girl at Prep. You really haven’t changed, still a whore, opening your legs to get what you want,” she says, rolling her eyes and crossing her arms over the frilly bodice of her peach organza dress. It really is the worst choice for a winter dinner, but I’m not here to critique her fashion sense.

Hayes stiffens at my side, hearing now what my posture and tension have alluded to, putting him on the defense of me.

I think the only reason I can answer her vile accusations is because he knows the truth about me, and I would rather lean into that than hate how she makes me feel. I’m done letting her get to me, done letting her make me feel defenseless.

“You made up every nasty rumor there was about me at Savannah Prep, so I guess your imagination was what was disgusting. You should work on that if you have a problem with me,” I say, before softening my tone. “We’re not in high school anymore, Liliana. Maybe you should grow up and find something worthwhile to pursue, rather than trying to make my life hell.”

“God, Paige, you’re so sensitive, you can’t even take a joke. Work on your sense of humor already.”

Liliana’s resort to gaslighting makes me question my ability to read the situation, and it’s so reminiscent of how Mama makes me feel regularly that I almost believe it. But there is a part of me, however small, that knows she’s wrong and is just trying to save face now that she’s been called out. Once I grasp that small flicker of truth, my heart softens and I’m able to cut the noose Liliana has had around me all these years.

It’s not about me at all, it’s about her, I realize. Every rumor she started with me in the spotlight was about behavior she herself exhibited. I knew it instinctually when it was happening, but it’s only now that it really hits me.

She created her own double standards and forced me to be her proxy to make herself feel better. Gosh, how much she must hate herself. She doesn’t need me to hate her at all when she’s doing that job well enough on her own.

I actually pity her.

“You know what? I don’t think you want to change, and it’s not my job to make you. Enjoy your life, Liliana. I think we’re done here. Hayes, we have more important people I would like to introduce you to. Come on.” I turn us away and don’t think twice about whatever Liliana may want to say.

“Your big heart will never cease to amaze me, angel. You showed far more restraint and grace than I would have for that nasty piece of work. Damn, I love you so fucking much,” Hayes says, tucking me into his side and pressing a hard kiss to my head.

“I love you, too, and I liked you as my menacing back up. That was exactly what I needed, to have the devil himself looking over my shoulder to make sure Liliana wasn’t too horrible and letting me handle it, even if I wasn’t great at it.”

“Oh, don’t worry. I have my own plans to make sure she gets exactly what she deserves. Her last name is Bailey, right? I’m going to bury that family of hers and ruin every bit of business they do in Savannah, and I’m not even going to offer to buy their company.” Hayes’s voice is far too chipper for the oath of obliteration he just gave me, and I give him a side-eye.

“Is that happy tone totally necessary?” I say with a laugh that dies as I see the serious set to his face.

Hayes pulls us to a stop and faces me. “You may be able to find forgiveness for the terrible things she said to you, but I don’t have to. I want her to hurt as badly as that look on your face hurt my soul.”

Hayes brings my hands up to his lips, kissing my fingers in turn and looking at me from under his lashes. His green eyes gleam malevolently, and I shiver. This is the ruthless king of the corporate underworld that the world knows and fears. I’ve been lucky to see the softer side of Hayes, but this is who he is to everyone else. He is fearsome, and I’m more than a little turned on by his territorial aggression and promise to strike down my enemies, necessary or not.

I shake the dirty thoughts from my mind and try to wrap my head around the situation at hand. “Why? It’s clear she hates herself enough for the both of us.”

Hayes takes my face in his hands and stares deep into my eyes, looking to sear my soul. His words are cold as he continues. “She needs to feel as small and powerless as she makes others feel. I will make hell rain down on her for what she said tonight, and even worse for what she has put you through over the years.”

“You don’t have to do that, though. We can let this go now and she will still be a miserable person without our interference.”

“Sweet angel, you are too pure for this world,” Hayes says.

He takes a seat on a settee along the hall outside of the dining room and pulls me down to perch on his lap turning me to face him.

“It’s my deepest desire to ensure that anyone who even looks at you wrong is fucking crushed.” His words ring true, like a sword unsheathed and ready for battle. “Women who say nasty shit like that to one of the sweetest people I’ve met are nothing but bullies who need a taste of their own medicine. As it so happens, I’m quite good at dishing out vengeance.”

The gleam in Hayes’s eyes is possessive and, if I’m honest, it makes me happy to hear someone say those things in defense of me for once, but… in a twisted way? He’s the wolf at the door I was told to be wary of, and now he’s mine forever.

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