Page 78 of Filthiest Of Them All

“He’s just got his panties in a bunch because I’m happy to see you and not his mug.” Omen bites down on his lips to keep from laughing, but Vatican and Carnage have no issues with releasing their humor.

“Hecan hear you,” Alex snarls.

I roll my eyes, forcing Omen to smile and shake his head. “And your point is?” I snap still keeping my back to him.

“My point is I’m about to lose my shit Tatum, and you won’t like what happens—” I spin around and face him, pinning him with a look of malice.

“Don’t you fucking threaten me!” I scream. I feel Omen flinch behind me. “You don’t get to come back into my life after six fucking months and think I’ll drop to my knees and worship you like some fucking God!”

Alex snaps his hand out and grips the back of my neck. He and I both freeze when we hear guns cocking. I dart my gaze to the side to see both Carnage and Halo have their guns drawn, I know without a doubt Omen has his drawn as well. Alex grinds his teeth as he shoots each of the guys a scathing look.

“Don’t keep pushing me, Tate.”

I snort. “Oh, I’m fucking trembling, Alex. What are you going to do, chain me up? No, your ex did that. You going to drug me? Nope, your ex did that as well. Wait, are you going to stab me?” He releases me and recoils into his side. “Nope, your ex did that as well. Oh, I know. How about you wait till I’m on my deathbed and then disappear from my fucking life after I risked everything to save you!” I don’t realize I’m screaming or even crying until I finish. “She nearly killed me,” I whisper. He flinches as if I’ve caused him physical pain. “She was going to have her men rape me while you watched.”

“She’s dead,” Alex grits out.

“You don’t fucking get it,” I whisper brokenly as the car comes to a stop. When Halo and Carnage climb out I rush to follow after them. I nearly make it to the plane before Alex grabs my waist and yanks me back until I face him.

“What don’t I get?” he roars.

“You leaving me hurt more than anything she did. You once asked mewho hurt me, the answer to that isyou.”

Alexander

I knew she would be angry and hurt but I didn’t think she would downright hate me. She refuses to even look in my direction. She seems to have no problem forgiving Omen for leaving her or even the others. The only one she is giving attitude toward is Carnage, but it seems like that is their brand of friendship.

“What’s your plan here, brother?” Omen asks as he claims the seat opposite me on the plane.

I scrub a hand down my face and sigh tiredly. For six months I have done nothing but work my ass off to become a man she could be proud of and be safe with, but I’m starting to think that it was all for nothing.

“I don’t know,” I answer honestly.

“I told you she would be pissed.”

I shoot him a glare. “You think you know her better than me?” I grit out.

He shakes his head. “Never said that,” he defends.

“She hates me,” I utter brokenly.

He scoffs. “If she hated you, she would have fought to not be on this plane right now. That girl loves you, Alex, but you have to see that you hurt her. Every person who has meant something to her has left her behind.”

I frown. “I didn’t leave her?—”

“Thomas didn’t want her. Her mother left. Nexus used her. She fell in love with you, and formed a partnership with the Vatel family in order to save you. She even got the Filthy Few to put on their masks, even with the threat of the CIA coming after them if they wore those things again. She risked it all for you and you left.”

“You know why I did it,” I snarl.

“We all told you it was a bad idea. You wouldn’t listen and now the great Alexander Denver is going to have to learn how to grovel and kiss ass, because that girl isn’t going to forgive you easily.” He stands and rejoins Tatum and the others at the front of the plane, leaving me here to mull over his words. I know what he says is true, but I needed to fix the wrongs of my past before I could embrace my future with her. Make no fucking mistake, Tatum Lawson is a part of my future whether she likes it or not.

I’ll make her see this big bad wolf will blow down all her walls until I’m the only thing left standing in her life.

* * *

When we arrive at the ranch, Tate laughs but there's no humor to it. “Oh, would you look at that, someone's home this time,” she snarks. Omen remains silent and follows her out of the car. I knew she would come looking for us, so for the first three months after we left I asked the guys to stay away from here. I knew if she found one of them she would have latched onto them and never left. I follow them all into the main house. Vatican and Halo both place her bags by the back door. Tatum scoffs, then places her hands on her hips. She turns around and my breath hitches for a second until I realize she’s only looking this way because Omen is standing beside me.

“I’m not staying withhim. Can I sleep in your room?”

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