Page 96 of Theirs to Ruin

Prodded by Dante’s words of freedom and strength, as well as the pent-up frustration and anger I’d been feeling toward Ty for days, I grabbed his sandwich, took a bite, then moaned in genuine delight at how the crisp crust of the bread gave way to pillowy softness and an explosion of Mediterranean flavors. For a moment, I was blinded by the memories—sights and smells, the sun on my skin, the sweetness of Ty’s lips—and almost burst into tears.

I kept chewing as Ty scowled at me.

“How about asking?”

I swallowed then shrugged. “I knew you’d say no.” I took another big bite. “God, that’s good,” I muttered.

“So that’s where we’re at? You’re just going to take what you want now?” He stepped closer to take the sandwich from my hands, but I maneuvered away and took another bite.

I chewed, swallowed, then gave him another shrug. “Why not? Taking what you wanted worked for you, didn’t it? You wanted my heart, so you took it. Then, when you were done, you ripped it to shreds.”

He looked stunned that I’d so blatantly called him out, and there was a brief instant where I saw a hint of the boy I knew back in Italy when his cheeks reddened. They used to get like that from laughing and excitement, but right now, he looked almost ashamed. Before I could read too much into it, his expression hardened.

“From what I can tell,” he said with a sneer, “given how you have Kage and Dante panting over you, your heart is doing just fine.”

I wanted to toss the sandwich back onto the plate but since that would be sacrilegious, I put it down properly. “What about my body?” I said, stepping closer to him.

“What the fuck are you talking about?” Ty’s eyes skated down my body before darting back up as if he’d never let himself look. “If you’re so horny, fuck them both. Fuck a legion of guys at the same time, I don’t care.”

“I don’t think that’s true.” I moved another inch closer and looked up at him through my eyelashes. I couldn’t believe what I was doing, but I wanted to rile him up. I wanted proof that I wasn’t the only one hung up on the past, and since we’d fooled around together to spectacular results, I didn’t feel the same hesitance about my sexuality that I sometimes felt with Kage or Dante. Either that, or my bitterness gave me confidence. I waspissed at him for being so reserved. For not exhibiting one iota of remorse for destroying my heart.

He owed me answers.

The charged space between us was thick with tension. I couldn’t help but let my gaze linger on his lips, remembering the taste of them. I took a step forward, letting my body brush lightly against his.

I ran my hand up then down his chest. His body coiled.

He almost had me fooled with that glare, that condescending frown. It was a clever mask. But I knew my Ty was still inside Mateo somewhere. That noteverythingwe’d experienced together had been a lie.

My voice dropped to a whisper. “You may claim to despise me…” My fingers continued their slow journey downwards, finally settling over the undeniable hardness in his pants. “…but this tells a different story.” I gripped his cock firmly. Taking my sweet time, I traced the outline of his growing arousal.

I’d found it.

The lust behind the mask.

“This? This, I’ve figured out,” I said.

There was a sound beside us and when I looked up, it was to lock gazes with Kage. He leaned against the doorframe, clearly having been watching for a while, his expression blank.

“Don’t stop on my account,” he said.

Flustered but not wanting to give up the edge I had over Ty, I turned back to him. “Why are you trying so hard to convince me you hate me? Because I don’t think you do.” I squeezed his dick again.

Ty shook his head, his expression now one of pity. “Any girl could evoke this reaction. You’re nothing special—to me or to anyone.” He jerked this head toward Kage. “Not even him. He doesn’t care if you fuck Dante or me. What do you think he’s doing when you’re not with him?”

The words battered me like stones. Hurt twisted in my gut until it churned itself into hate. Ava’s face flashed in my mind, and I remembered all her nasty comments, her cruel comebacks. Unable to stop myself, I shot back, “Kage can fuck who he wants. But at least he has his pick of girls. With your scars, you repel them more than you attract them.”

Kage sucked in a breath. Ty’s face hardened. Instantly, horror washed over me at the cruel words I’d just uttered. Before I knew it, I was pinned against the wall, Ty’s hand around my throat—not squeezing, just threatening.

Kage moved fast, whipping out his gun and pointing it at Ty’s head.

Ty didn’t even look at him. He kept his hand on my throat for a couple more seconds, as if to make a point, then pressed the lightest of kisses on my lips.

So light it was obviously a mockery.

Slowly, he released my throat and stepped back.

Kage kept the gun pointed at Ty.

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