Page 112 of House of Cards

“I don’t—“ I cut off, ripping my glasses off, pinching the bridge of my nose.

I don’t care?

But I do. Of course I do. The Balmont Boys mean everything to me. They gave me a second chance at life and, after Michelle, a third.

Do I even deserve a fourth if Zoey turns out to be just as destructive?

“Christ,” I mutter as I reluctantly lower myself onto the edge of the chaise lounge, my knees wide, fingers meshed and dangling between them as I lean forward.

“She’s more trouble than she’s worth,” Myles says quietly. “You know if this was any other girl, you’d already have Troy take her for one of those road trips of his, where he’s the only one who comes back.”

My knuckles turn white.

I rise to my full height, breathing deep. “No. No one touches her but me.”

Myles’s eyebrows twitch. “You’re awful fond of that word lately, Smith.”

I lick my lips, step closer, and let my hands curl into fists like they’ve so badly wanted to this whole time. I’ve never stood up to Myles like this before. What Balmont wants, Balmont always gets, and everyone else be damned. I’ve been fine with it our entire relationship, usually because our wants are aligned, but this?

I can’t let this happen.

“Zoey ismine.”

“I’m sure as fuck not fighting for custody.” Myles stands and heads for the door. “As long as you keep doing your job, you canrun your dick ragged in your new toy’s magical golden pussy for all I care. But under no circumstance does that hellraiser set foot back in my club.”

Relief, warm and heavy, pins me where I stand.

He glances back at me, the only smile those faint lines around the corners of his blue eyes.

“Just remember to dispose properly of your toy this time when you’re done playing with her. We wouldn’t want another surprise visit from our friends at the DEA.”

Smith

“Why haven’t you kissed me yet?”

I give Zoey a slow blink, my mind still reeling from Myles’ parting words. The weight of what I’ve just done encases me like concrete.

I’ve claimed her. Marked her as mine.

It’s an impulsive decision that could cost me everything I’ve only just rebuilt.

Having to choose between the Balmont Boys and this near stranger shouldn’t even be a choice. I don’t need her, but Idoneed them. They’re the only family I have. The only people who know what I am…and yet have no issue keeping me around.

But I can’t untangle the clusterfuck my thoughts have become. Can’t make up from down. It happens whenever Michelle comes up.

Everyone has a period in their lives they wish they could do over, or erase. Shitty childhoods. Awful high school years. Bad jobs, bad relationships, bad decisions.

Mine was the latter, which led to the former. An Angel who caught my attention, who I then dated.

It didn’t just end in tears.

It ended in a shallow grave, and a visit from the FBI that nearly brought down everything Myles had built.

Yet here I am, risking it all again for another woman who looks at me like I’m anything but the predator who’s going to devour her whole.

And while I’m dealing with those horrific memories, knowing that I’ll have to dispose of her one day soon, Zoey’s asking me irrelevant, loaded questions like why I haven’t fuckingkissedher yet.

“Well?” She tosses hair out of her eyes, tilts her head, and demands an answer with sultry, hooded eyes.

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