Page 10 of Perfidious Passion

Embarrassment floods my cheeks even though I have yet to actually finish a glass. I shake my head. "No, just tired."

"Wine will do that to ya." Brett's words are joyous, like he's having a good time, but I hear and see the underlying threat in his language.Don't ever say no to me.

Tears well up in my eyes, but Aaron and Brett are already discussing something about work. Caleb's talking to the waitress and handing her a couple of bills. Dean's the only one who notices my turmoil.

"Baby—"

"I'm tired, D."Get me out of here, please.

He studies me so intently that I can't hold his gaze anymore. A glass of cold water is nudged into my hand, and I gulp it down. I want to be annoyed with the guys so badly for not realizing what's wrong, but how can I expect them to read my mind? Especially when I won't give them even a hint of what's bugging me.

But I'm not just bugged. I'm thoroughly uneasy and a whole lot ofdon't leave me the fuck alone with this man. I'd love to never see Brett again, but the cost of my ease is far too great.

I think I miss something because one moment I'm trying not to have a mental breakdown, and the next Caleb is pulling my chair out and reaching for me. "Let’s get you home, Lil."

I sigh and take my lover's hand. "Thank you," I murmur. Dean lets us know he's going to the bathroom real quick and Aaron swipes his hand along my side as he goes to retrieve my coat from the desk.

I watch my men disperse, thankful for Caleb standing by me still until he too gets distracted. "One second," he says and kisses my cheek before waltzing over to a waiter.

My heart is in my throat immediately, making me feel silly.I'm in a public space, it's not like?—

A sudden force against my back forces the breath from my lungs and my ankles to twist in my low heels. I'm squeaking and careening toward a neighboring table before I can try to catch myself.

I don't need to though.

A hard, freezing cold hand snatches my bicep and hauls me back into a stone chest. "Careful, Lilly. Wouldn't want to embarrass Aaron, would you?"

I'm not breathing. I don't think I so much as twitch. In the arms of a predator, I go absolutely still. I might as well be playing dead.

Weak. I'm fucking weak.

"What's going on?"

The breath whooshes out of me hearing Caleb's voice tight with accusation. When I look up at him and see his eyes narrowed on Brett's hands still touching my arm, I think he might understand.

Brett laughs and peels his hellish fingers off of me to pat my aching arm. "She stumbled, almost wentplopright into that poor old woman." The old woman I almost fell onto glares at Brett.At least I'm not the only one.

Dean returns, his brows furrowed as he takes in our tense forms and Brett's nonchalance. I rush to him and grip his jacket. "Caleb?"

Caleb looks from me to Brett and the old woman one more time before tucking the to-go box under his arm and sweeping his arm out to get me and Dean to start walking.

Anger burns a pit in my roiling stomach. I release my husband because all his presence and what his damn twin is doing is pissing me off. I’m annoyed not only with my three men for not realizing how weird Brett is, but also at myself and the struggle to communicate my feelings. Shoving my arms into my jacket once we reach Aaron, I avoid all eye contact and make my way out the revolving glass doors.

Fucking assholes.

I'd rather freeze than be around that man or my partners.

I did not fucking stumble. And I only got a tad tipsy.But sometimes I stumble when I stand still after drinking.

Aaron's hand slips around my waist and guides me to the valet desk. I hardly remember waiting for our car to come, toowrapped up in my confusion. I ignore their attempts to converse with me on the drive home too.

I know for a fact that I felt Brett slam into me, but did I run into him? Maybe I stumbled back and rammed into him as I was going down.

That's not what it felt like, though.

"Lilly." Aaron's tone is sharp as I kick my heels off and stomp into the kitchen for some water. "What's wrong?"

"Nothing," I snip because honestly, what can I say? Ifeellike I didn't fall. Itfeltlike he ran into me.

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