Page 89 of Savage Revenge

I can’t.

Jordyn left.

I gave her the option to go.

She could have stayed.

I wanted her to.

Last night wasn’t just sex. It wasn’t fucking.

It was us, baring our souls and then making love to each other.

At least, I thought that’s what it was.

Was she playing me this entire time?

Making me fall for her so I’d cave and let her go?

It’s easy to assume that. I wasn’t lying to her when I said trusting people is hard.

When Cassian stops talking and walks away to sit down at a nearby table, the four of us head for the exit for some fresh air and a place to talk. As soon as we step out the door, I light up a cigarette and take a cleansing breath as the nicotine hits me. These things will kill me one day, but without my kitten, I might as well be dead anyway.

“Send some of our men to collect Elliott Carver,” I tell Beckett. “Seems he’s been hiding a lot from me lately. He’s trying to play me for a fool, and that’s a big mistake on his end.” I take a long drag and roll my shoulders. “I’ve got a feeling that motherfucker knows something about Dad’s murder.”

My chest burns, and I walk away from the three of them, needing a second to myself. How could I not have seen it? Carver and Kingston were making business deals under my nose. Kingston’s parents wouldn’t sign off on that. They’re old school. They want the business to stay in the family. Even if it’s losing money, they would rather sell off a casino or two than give up half their shares. Which means Kingston forged the documents and is trying to sell off the business that my girl is supposed to run.

“Cash,” Xander calls as he walks up from behind. “What’s up, man? I’m worried about you.”

I stare off into the distance and take another drag. “I let her go.”

It’s a simple statement. Only four words, yet it feels like a knife to the gut.

“What? Why did you do that?” His eyebrows are pinched as he studies me from the side.

“Because she isn’t responsible for Kingston’s sins.”

When I finally look at him, his jaw is tight.

“She’s not. But you’re in love with her.”

I swallow twice before nodding. “I am. But she left. So it doesn’t matter.”

He’s silent for a second before he sighs. “You’re a dumbass.”

“What?” I snap.

Xander shakes his head and runs his tattooed fingers through his hair. “Did you ask her if she’d like to stay?”

Irritation prickles at the base of my neck, and my bruised knuckles start to throb. “No, I didn’t ask her to stay. We kidnapped her. I told her she was free to go, and she went. Just drop it. I don’t know why you care. You don’t like her anyway.”

I turn to leave, done with this conversation.

“What the hell are you talking about?” Xander spins to face me, his gray-blue eyes darker than usual.

I match his expression, glaring at him. “You haven’t liked her since the second we took her.”

Xander scoffs and looks away, sliding his hands into his pockets. “Liking and trusting are two different things, brother. I like her just fine. It’s the trusting part that I’m struggling with. But that’s more of a me problem, considering I don’t trust any woman.”

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