Page 85 of Clinch'd

Beast eyes him silently and sensing there’s more to Cooper’s statement then meets the eye, I clear my throat and ask uncomfortably, “Where is Lorri?”

Cooper’s pretty eyes turn on me and I shrivel away, recalling his cruel gossip. His mouth curves up in a wicked smirk, although his eyes are stark when he says, “She’s around somewhere.”

“Hm,” I say, turning back to Beast and raising a brow. “What’s next?”

He smirks and lifts a shot before downing it and with a small smile, I follow, wincing at the harsh taste on my tongue.

“What? No more twenty questions? Okay, I’ve got one,” Cooper says grimly. “Minnie? When you threw over my whole fucking career were you getting back at me for him?”

“That’s enough,” Beast barks. “Maybe you should have fucking kept your nose where it belongs.”

“Meaning what? I should’ve looked the other way. Fuck you,” Cooper snarls.

“No, fuck you,” Beast says, pushing back his chair.

Uneasily, I stare at the drinks bouncing on the table before looking back to Beast, who clenches his fists at his sides and says, “I’m tired of the fucking lies. Pull your head out of your ass.”

With that he stalks away, and I stare after him with wide eyes.

“Well, that went well,” Cooper says dryly.

Swinging my head his way, I whisper, “You’re a dick.”

His eyes meet mine, full of fire as he drops his eyes to my tits once more and licks his lips, “You know what, baby?”

“What?” I whisper, suppressing the shiver sliding across my skin.

“I thought I liked big tits, but I find that a handful is just enough.”

He smiles wickedly, but there’s a lack of humanity behind his eyes that makes me shiver for real this time.

Sucking in a painful breath, I lean forward until our lips are practically touching and say, “You are a fucking psychopath and deserve everything you get.”

He grabs my hair and wrenches my head back before lowering his lips to mine and saying harshly, “You haven’t seen anything yet.”

Pulling back, I stand on trembling limbs and turn away, right into Lorri who’s standing behind me with a wide grin. “Minnie!”

She looks good, hot, and perfectly Cooper’s type which makes my skin crawl because even after everything I’m still brooding over him picking her. Moron.

“I was just leaving,” I say stiffly and Lorri’s face falls.

“Why so soon?” Cooper says silkily behind us. “Don’t you want to celebrate your sister’s birthday? We missed you at the family dinner.”

“They’re not my family,” I mutter, looking away from Lorri who glances between us with a frown.

“No? Baby, you didn’t tell me Minnie’s your half-sister.”

“She’s not,” Lorri says, “they didn’t want to adopt her.”

Averting my gaze, I hide my grimace because although I’ve thought that might have been the case, having it confirmed is just another dagger through my fucking heart.

“Whatever, I’m going,” I say.

“Wait up. This is her birthday. You’re not jealous of your sister, are you?” he asks wickedly but when I look into his eyes, I see nothing but darkness.

I blame alcohol later for losing all sense of reason as I snarl, “Jealous of what? You think she’s pretty now, but the shine will wear off when she’s flying high and fucking your friends.”

“Minnie!” she gasps, her blue eyes flashing before she snarls and pours her drink down my dress.

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