Page 107 of Clinch'd

Now, I had Minnie’s tear-filled eyes emblazoned on my brain. Something else to add to the ever-growing list of shit I regret eyes even though she fucking started this shit when she rolled in with her pretty lies.

I get that she was protecting Lorri although I have my doubts that she would do the same for Minnie, but it didn’t change the fact that she did something I’m struggling to figure out how to forgive.

And I wasn’t talking about my damn career although that was diabolical shit. Minnie pulled something out of me I’d struggled with for years and then stomped on it with her sexy as fuck heels.

Before her, I was fucking fine living my life and now, it feels completely fucking empty.

“What?” I said and Beast sighed. Asshole. As if I was interested in hearing him lecture me when he couldn’t keep a plant alive much less a fucking relationship.

Thank fuck, I was saved by his supposed disappointment when my phone rang.

I had zero desire to speak to Rafe either who’d been eyeing me with disapproval since I started fucking Minnie. I thoughtat first, he was jealous because he wanted in there. Now I’m wondering if he didn’t see what was obviously right in front of my face while I chased her pussy like a dick.

“What?” I snapped and swung around when he said, “You’ve got a problem.”

Now here I am with Minnie beside me, bruised and subdued.

What the hell was Jordan doing? Why attack Minnie? Fuck me.

What if I hadn’t gotten there in time? What if Rafe hadn’t called me?

Beyond that, why was Jordan involved with Castinetti? Was he playing me this entire time? Why?

I didn’t know the asshole before I started fighting and I paid him well. What was his motivation?

With a sigh, I brush Minnie’s hair back from her brow before pressing my lips to her forehead. Thank fuck I managed to stop him, but the journey isn’t over and now I have another passenger on my ride to hell.

Chapter 40

Minnie

A few hours later, I roll out of bed and step into the bathroom. A glance in the mirror confirms the bruising around my mouth and with a shudder, I remind myself that I’m alive.

I have no idea if I can say the same for Jordan. Sleezy fucker.

I also don’t know how to face Cooper or if I want to. I am eternally grateful he intervened, but it doesn’t change his shady as fuck dealings with Beast.

The question is, what do I do now?

With a sigh, I wipe my face and glance down at Cooper’s shirt. I can’t stand the thought of putting on the clothes I wore earlier, now that they’re stained by Jordan’s actions, but I feel particularly vulnerable confronting Cooper again in nothing but his shirt.

Whatever. It doesn’t matter. I need to find my shit so I can go home. I’ve never wanted anything more than to go back to my dull life.

The problem is my old life is gone and, in its place, this fucking nightmare where Castinetti presumably wants me dead. And if Beast’s insinuations coupled with Jordan’s about Lorri beinginvolved in this shit are true, she’s knowingly included me in the fallout.

Why? Was this about Cooper and the drugs or something more? And what the hell is it? She must be in trouble but for the first time in my damn life, I acknowledge I can’t help her.

Still, if I ignore this, it’ll likely blow up in my face, as it always does.

Once again, my stomach roils, and I shake my head. I need to eat but I’m not sure I can keep anything down.

Instead, I tiptoe to the door and peer into the living room. The television is on low but when I don’t see Cooper, I peek over the couch.

Empty.

The city skyline shines in the darkness from the open shades, and I move to the balcony door, pausing to find him sitting in one of the chairs.

His defeated posture, with his head in his hands, hurts my chest, but I remind myself that my heart hurts, too. Dammit.

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