Page 87 of Shattered Fate

I’m quiet for too long.

“I suppose you’re not ready to do something like that.”

Immediately, I see him bringing another woman, the redhead from the café wearing a slinky dress, showing her off to the other guests, meeting his family.

“People will talk,” I say, wringing my hands, wanting to go and needing to hide warring inside me, pulling me in opposite directions.

“Yeah. They will. You should find someone more suitable to go with, then. It’s for Max.”

The color drains from my face. I don’t want to go with anyone else. “What do you mean?”

He jerks on his jacket. Baby scratches at the door, needing to go potty, and he opens it, letting her bolt into the yard. “I know what we’d look like, and you’re right. People will talk and wonder why a woman like you is with a man like me. I get it, Zarah. You love me in private. It’s cool.”

Violently, I shake my head. He’s got it all wrong. “That’s not it.”

He steps onto the porch, and I follow without a coat, yanking on his arm. He shakes me off, and I swear to God, the world tilts.

“Then what is it?” he asks, his voice hard.

“They know. They all know. The men Ash sold me to—they’re in the same social circles. They probably bragged about what they did to me. Could you look at me over a glass of wine and not picture what they told you? ‘Zarah Maddox, you know her father cost me millions. Paid her back last night. She couldn’t stand up after I was done with her. Worth every penny I paid Ash Black.’”

I keep babbling over Gage’s long string of murmured expletives.

“Then they laugh over scotches and cigars. Their wives know, their daughters and sons. They’ll see me. See how dirty I am.” I shiver, but I don’t feel the cold. I’m standing in a generic ballroom, chandeliers gleaming and people whispering while they drink champagne. Mocking me.

“Fuck. That’s not what they think, and even if they do, go to the dinner, hold your head up, and look those sons of bitches in the eyes. You didn’t let Black break you, baby. You’re stronger than all of them hypocrites. Show them who you are. You’re fucking Zarah Maddox, and one day you’re going to rule this fucking city. I hope I’m around to watch.”

“I can’t do it alone.”

“You won’t have to. You’ll find someone.”

“You, Gage. All I want is you. You have to believe me. I’m mixed up, and I’m scared, and the only time I’m not is when I’m with you.”

He sighs and pushes me into the house, leaving the door open to watch for Baby who’s sniffing around his truck’s tires. “You were right. People will talk.”

“Let them.” I sound a lot surer now than I did before, but we’re talking about different things.

“They’re going to wonder what you’re doing with a guy like me.”

“No, they’re not. They’re going to wonder what you’re doing with a piece of tra—”

“Don’t you fucking dare,” he says, and he crushes his mouth to mine. His anger is going to suffocate me, and I start to see stars. I struggle, and he releases me, shoving me away, and I draw in a jagged breath, the back of my hand pressed to my swollen lips.

“You are beautiful, and I will never let anyone say shit about you.”

“Then it’s settled.” My stomach feels anything but.

“Yeah, it is.” His tone says everything is far from settled.

“Can Zane and Stella go? They were close to Max.” I wouldn’t be so nervous if they were there, too.

“I’m sure Zane’s already been invited.”

“Oh. He hasn’t mentioned it. That’s good. We can ride in a limo. It will be fun.”

“We’ll have to meet there. Pop’s going too, and more than likely he’ll hitch a ride.”

I force cheer into my voice. “It will be nice to meet him.”

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