Page 109 of Beneficial Misfortune

How the hell do Trevor and Carter know each other? What kind of fresh hell is this?

It doesn’t really matter, though, if I’m being honest; I just need to get Addison and me out of here and away from them.

I can’t look at Trevor without my mind going back to the classroom and the way his hands felt on my arms, the bruises he left, and the fear I felt. I turn away, letting my eyes wanderback to Addison, who thankfully remains blissfully unaware of the situation I’m currently dealing with.

“I’ve missed you, Katie,” Carter whispers, his voice low and husky in a way I used to love but now it makes me want to gag. I’d forgotten how much I hated the nickname he gave me. In high school, everyone always said it was so sweet that he called me that. They would ooh and ahh, and I somehow convinced myself I didn’t hate it.

I guess that only lasted as long as our relationship, though, because I hate it again now. I’m pretty sure I hate everything about Carter, so that’s not surprising.

“I waited, you know. I expected you to come back, but no, you’ve always been so damn stubborn. I should have known.” He chuckles, and the sound gives me the fucking creeps.

How had I ever wanted a life with this man?

I bite the inside of my cheek, knowing anything that might come out of my mouth right now will only make this worse. I just need to keep him talking until Vince gets back. I just need to keep Addison safe.

“I didn’t expect you to whore yourself out, though. When Trevor told me you were throwing yourself into bed with a bunch of guys, some of which were old enough to be your father, for their money, I was shocked and disgusted,” he hisses in my ear. I focus on my breathing; I don’t want him to know he’s affecting me. “Then those assholes came to the club and wanted to act like you were theirs! As if you didn’t already belong to me. As if you won’t always be mine. I’d thought Trevor was wrong, that you couldn’t possibly be with these men, but I also knew you needed someone to support you. Someone to try to fill the void in your life after you left me.” He leans in closer, and I can’t help but flinch when I feel the warmth of his finger touch my cheek, and I know he notices. I’m the center of his attention right now;there’s no way he missed it, and one glance his way lets me know I’m right if his predatory smile is anything to go by.

I have to bite back the need to remind him that I left because of him. That he was the one who cheated on me. I know it won’t do any good, and I don’t need to draw attention to us.

“Imagine my surprise when they show up and buy the club, Katie,” he spits, his voice so full of venom it should have me shrinking away, but I can’t manage it past the shock of what he just said.

They bought the club.

“Because of you and this stupid idea that they have, that you belong to them, they humiliated me. Kicking me out as if I were some nobody, a fucking peasant.” He spits the word in disgust, his breathing labored. I can’t stop the smile that pulls at my lips, knowing they got to him. Knowing they had to have done it for me.

None of them said a thing to me about it, and somehow, that makes it even more romantic.

His cold fingers wrap around my jaw, tugging my head to the right so that I’m forced to look at him head-on, and there’s no denying the anger that burns in his gaze.

“Do you have any idea the hit my reputation already took when you left me, and now this?” He leans in, his voice getting quieter but somehow angrier. I’ve been on the receiving end of Carter’s anger a few times, but never in a place so public, and I’m not sure I’ve ever seen him this angry. “It’s time to come home and stop playing. You had your fun, but I won’t continue to be laughed at and ridiculed because you needed to explore your hoe phase under the pretense of a better job.” He frowns at me in disgust. I try to pull free of his grip, but that only makes him tighten his hold.

“So this is what’s going to happen. You're going to get up and walk out of here with me. Her little bodyguard will be back soonto collect her.” A whimper breaks through my lips as I try to look toward Addison, but his grip remains firm. Out of the corner of my eye, I catch a glance of her splashing and laughing, and I know he’s right.

Vince will come for her. She’ll be okay.

“Or you can resist, and I’ll take you by force, and Trevor will take her, and you’ll never see her again.” He pauses, his lips twitching in a hint of a smile, one that makes him look even more deranged. “Nobody will.”

“What will it be, my dear Katie?”

I don’t trust myself to speak. If I open my mouth right now, I might scream or even start crying. Instead, I nod and hope he’s smart enough to figure out that I’m agreeing to go with him.

His fingers loosen from my jaw, but he doesn’t release me.

“I knew you missed me. How could you not when we were simply made for each other?” Before I have a second to comprehend what he’s about to do, his lips are pressed to mine in a kiss that feels more like he’s trying to mark his territory, to brand me, than to show affection.

He pulls back, quickly dropping his hold from my face before turning to meet Trevor’s gaze across the room. I’m not sure how they know each other, but watching them have a silent conversation lets me see just how much they do.

God, I’d been so stupid to think Trevor was just an annoyance who would eventually take the hint, but even in all his toxic behaviors, I never thought this was possible.

With Carter’s attention momentarily off of me, I take a chance to look back at Addison for what might be the last time.

It feels like an eternity since I’d been sitting with Carter, but really, it couldn’t have been more than five minutes. Any longer, Vince would probably be back, and this whole thing would be handled, only to be a bad memory.

Unfortunately, Carter seems to realize time is ticking as well. Reaching for my hand, he yanks me up with him, pressing to his feet before quickly pulling me toward the exit. I stumble for a moment before I’m able to get my balance. I have to fight the urge to let myself fall and slow him down. If I put up any kind of fight, I could be putting Addison in danger, and as much as I might not want to go with Carter, I just can’t bring myself to risk her.

As if he can read my mind, his fingers tighten around mine, squeezing hard enough that a grunt of pain escapes me.

“I don’t want to hurt you, but I can’t trust you not to do anything stupid, Katie. I trusted you to do the right thing, come back, and look at what happened. No, I won't be making that mistake again.”

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