Page 103 of Clinch'd

“Know what?” I rasp, swallowing the lump in my throat.

“Why did Castinetti send you?” Cooper says, raising his caramel eyes to mine. Right this moment, I hate those lying fucking eyes. They sucked me in and made me a fool. Fuck me.

“Why? Who the fuck cares,” I say, slashing my hand through the air. “What you want to know is whyyou. Well, I’ve got bad news for you fuckers, I don’t know. You think they’d tell me shit?”

“What about Lorri?” Beast demands.

“What about her?”

“Did they send her, too?” Beasts says, his eyes drilling into mine.

“I already told you. They sent me. Did you really knock her up, you sick fuck?”

Beast glares at Cooper and he shrugs before Beast says, “No. So tell me why your sister says I did…”

This is all just a fucking game. All of it and now is not the time for a confrontation because I’m still processing the shit that happened yesterday. I’m exhausted—literally. I can barely stand and rubbing the bridge of my nose, I suck back my tears and say, “All I know is that I tried to protect the one thing that mattered to me. And you fuckers took advantage of that. I hope you both rot in hell.”

While they stand in stunned silence, I spin on my heel, and wrench on the door before stepping into the hall.

Cooper’s words follow me as he says, “This is life or death.”

“Yeah, my sister's life. I don’t give a shit about you,” I snarl, stepping into the elevator and pressing the button.

I’m staring at my toes because I don’t want to be sucked in again when Cooper slides his hand between the doors and says, “This isn’t over.”

“Oh, it’s fucking over. You want answers, go ask your fucking manager, the skeevy fuck.”

I feel the bitter sting of triumph when Cooper’s hand drops away and I smile with all my teeth, until his eyes cloud over and I avert my gaze. I can’t believe I fell for this shit.

Or maybe I can. I’m the world's biggest fool. These assholes preyed on my weakness, and I let them. What? Did they see the lonely, frumpy girl and assume the best way in was to make her fall in love?

Diabolical.

As soon as the doors close, I lean against the wall and rub my aching stomach. I don’t have time to be sick and I’m hoping my roiling emotions will get the hint. I need out, like now.

Back in my room, I shove my shit in my suitcase and pull on a shirt and pants.

I haven’t showered and my hair is a rat’s nest on my head, but I don’t fucking care. With my heart in my throat, I pull the suitcase into the elevator and tap my foot on the floor while I wait.

My skin crawls. I just want out before I lose my shit. I can’t be here.

Ironically, I’m going home to nothing because Cooper stole my sister out from under me. Beast isn’t the quasi friend I thought he was.

I am as pathetic as I never wanted to be.

I’m pretty sure the elevator stops at every fucking floor and I’m on my last bit of patience when the doors open onto the lobby.

“Minnie?”

Averting my gaze, I try to step past but Jordan, Cooper’s creepy manager grabs my arm.

Wrenching away violently, I grab the handle of my bag and move to go around him, but he blocks my way, before shoving me back into the car and stabbing the button for the fifth floor.

“Get out of my way,” I hiss, and he slowly shakes his head.

“You should never have come back.”

At his words, ice slides down my spine and I glance over his shoulder but it’s too late and I meet Rafe’s troubled gaze as the doors close in his face.

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