Page 89 of Set In Stone

That thought brought my reality to the forefront. I was the devil and I didn’t deserve an angel. I scanned her up and down. Her casual attire was a stark contrast to Sasha’s, as well as to every other woman in the place. It was another reminder of how good Krystina was. Too good for someone like me. She didn’t belonghere.

I saw her eyes dart down to Sasha’s hand. It was still on my lap. Instinctively, I wanted to explain that it wasn’t what it looked like. I wanted to tell her that I hadn’t touched Sasha, nor did I even want her. My heart constricted from the accusation written plainly on her face. However, I didn’t have the energy to explain anything to anyone. Even toher.

Don’t feel. Just let hergo.

It would be best if I let her make assumptions about the scene before her. It would give her an out from my fucked-up life. Krystina deserved better than me. The sooner she realized it, the better off she’dbe.

“What are you doing here?” I asked coolly, leaning back and draping my arm casually across the back of thebooth.

“I could ask you the same thing!” she lashed out, her eyes flashingangrily.

I looked over at Sasha. She sat in silence, waiting to for my response. She almost looked smug, as if she thought I would choose her over Krystina. The idea was almost laughable. She repulsedme.

“Get lost, Sasha,” I told her. A pang of hurt momentarily shadowed her face, but she quickly recovered and got to herfeet.

Walking over to Krystina, she leaned in and whispered something to her. I didn’t know what she said, but Krystina’s eyes widened until her expression became murderous. Her hands balled into fists as she pulled back to meet Sasha’s gaze. For a moment, I thought Krystina might actually slap her. She didn’t, but she did give her the iciest glare I’d ever seen her giveanyone.

“You are nothing to him,” Krystina hissed and jabbed a finger hard into Sasha’s shoulder. Then she pivoted and slid into the space next to me where Sasha had vacated. Krystina stared hard at Sasha, almost challenging, yet clearly staking her claim. Sasha glared back at her momentarily, before laughing cruelly at her own private joke. She sauntered away with her hips swaying melodramatically in herwake.

“Well, now that was amusing. I thought I was about to have a cat fight on my hands. It could have been fun,” I said. My tone was aloof, yet mocking of thesituation.

“Stop being a bastard and come home,Alex.”

“I’m not going home,” I told her and took a swig from myglass.

“You’re not yourself and it’s understandable after the day you had. However, I didn’t just spend the last fifteen minutes being groped and molested for nothing. Come home where it’s quiet and we’lltalk.”

My fingers clenched around my glass at her statement, tightening so much that I thought it might shatter in myhands.

What does she mean by groped and molested? To think that some asshole in here thought he had the rightto…

I looked at herwrist.

“Fuck, Krystina! You came in here without a bracelet? Are youstupid?”

She tilted her chin in defiance and I could almost visualize the steel rod running down herback.

“Not stupid. Worried. About you, dammit! I just forgot about the bracelet thing. It doesn’t matter. I’m fine. You, on the other hand, are not. We can either go home and work through this, or we can talk it out right here in this...” she paused and waved her arm around angrily, her face grimacing in disgust as she motioned to the surrounding area. “In this fucking club. Take your pick, but I’d prefer to talk anywhere buthere.”

“I already told you. I’m notleaving.”

She narrowed her eyes and glowered at me. I could almost see the steam furiously billowing from herears.

“Fine,” she bit out. “Have it your way. We’ll talkhere.”

Krystina began to speak, her voice droning on and on amidst the loud music of the club, explaining everything that Justine and Hale told her. I was listening, but yet I wasn’t. Her words seemed to fade in and out. Whether it was because my mind was clouded from drink or because I was in denial, I couldn’t besure.

Hale was only protectingus.

Following my grandfather’swishes.

Justine killed myfather.

My mother wasalive.

I didn’t know if I was happy or sad about having the answers I had been in search of for so long. I didn’t know what to feel at all about it. I didn’t even care that Krystina was talking about it so openly and publically. Rather than respond to anything she was saying, I swallowed the last of my drink and signaled the waitress foranother.

When she brought it, Krystina snatched it from myhand.

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