Page 46 of Clinch'd

Still, something happened, and I rush to the doors, hoping to interrogate her. What happened? Why does she look like she fell on her face?

Unfortunately, I’m too late and I frown when her cold eyes meet mine before she looks away altogether.

Fuck me, but that look is all I can think about as I race toward the stairs. Except I have no idea what floor she’s on and when I come to my fucking senses, I pull up my contacts and press call.

“Now you—“

“Fuck off! What room is Minnie in?” I snarl.

“You want me to tell you where she’s staying?” he gasps dramatically and I pound my fist against the wall, ignoring the dirty look some old biddy casts me as she grabs her coat tighter and slides by.

“Just spit it out,” I bark, and he laughs. Laughs.

“I told you not to fuck my cousin…”

“Fuck off! We both know she’s not your cousin. Dick. Now you tell me what room she’s in or I’m going to beat the fucking shit out of you like I should have done a long time ago.”

Silence is my answer before he says, “What happened?”

Chapter 17

Minnie

I’m just drifting off to an exhausted sleep when pounding on my door starts up. I spent the better part of an hour contemplating my next steps but no matter how I circled the drain, I came to the same conclusion. No one can help me but me.

After the fiasco with Cooper, I wandered the streets of LA before hailing a cab and going back to the hotel. But as I emerged from the vehicle, I spied an all-night coffee shop across the way and stepped inside.

My brain was buzzing, but more so my body. Cooper brought the heat and then failed to deliver, and I was afraid if I went back to my room, I’d stare at the ceiling with need. I refused to do that knowing he was probably perfectly sated by now.

I texted Beast when I left but he hadn’t bothered to respond, and I was fucking wary of his pissy attitude. But what could I do? If I left, I ran the risk of Suit’s wrath but every day I stayed, I was stuck with Cooper and his fucking dick.

I’m not a fucking moron, I know my fascination with Cooper is unhealthy. He’s been nothing but an arrogant dick after all.Maybe I need therapy? Maybe I need to get my shit together and fulfill whatever Suit’s got lined up so I can get the fuck out?

Maybe I need to get out of my own fucking head.

Shit.

I’d never been so conflicted, and it was creating havoc in my brain. The irony was that it didn’t matter what I wanted because Cooper didn’t want me anyway.

Clutching a warm cup of tea between my hands, I blew on the top before taking a small sip. The spicy flavor of bergamot burst on my tongue when I swallowed the heated brew, and I closed my eyes. Tea was my comfort thing, and I was soaking it up, even though it was two in the morning, and I should be in bed.

Although after a few sips, I conceded tea was not doing the trick and thoroughly exhausted after circling the drain of my thoughts, I dropped my cup in the garbage can by the door and exited the shop. I was halfway across the street when a town car pulled up to the hotel and I paused, tripping over my feet as Cooper emerged.

But he wasn’t alone, and if I wasn’t mistaken, the chick on his arm was the one making out with Beast a few hours earlier. My chest burned at the sight, and I shrank into the shadows, only to squeal when I was grabbed up from behind.

“Keep your mouth shut.”

Oh shit. I’m in for it now.

Nodding faintly, I dropped all my weight and my attacker grunted, loosening his hold. I wasted no time scrambling to my feet and emerging from the alley.

“Co—” I called out before he disappeared through the door with that chick on his arm and I fell to my knees, clutching my head.

“Unh,” I moaned, pain exploding through my skull.

But I had no time to recover before my attacker pulled me back by my hair and snarled, “Don’t fucking move.”

My head was on fire from his brutal grip, and I froze as he pulled me up and pushed me back into the alley.

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