Page 7 of Triumphant Kings

Turning to face Preston, we stand there for a moment, just looking at one another. He looks like he wants to kiss me, but can’t bring himself to do it.

I’m not making this move. Yes, I want to prove to him that I’m not going anywhere. But after the distance he’s forced between us for days now, I’m not sure where we stand.

Just as I think nothing is going to happen, Preston lets out a low growl and wraps one arm around my waist, pulling me flush to his chest and tangling the fingers of his other hand into the hair at the back of my head before pressing his lips to mine.

This kiss isn’t like the others; it’s anger and passion flooding into every movement of his lips.

“Happy New Year’s,” he growls against my lips.

Panting heavily, I stare into his stormy eyes before looking at Grayson and Declan. They're watching with small smiles on their lips, and for the first time all day, I believe that everything just might be okay.

I just hope tomorrow will have the same outcome.

Chapter 2

Preston

If I keep pacing back and forth like this any longer, I’m going to wear a damn hole in the floor of Grayson’s living room.

I’m going out of my fucking mind, unable to shut the damn thing off.It doesn't help that Tina hasn’t stopped calling my phone since I ditched her last night. Well fuck her. The last thing I want to deal with is that bitch.

After we got back last night, there was this awkward, tense energy, and no one knew what to do. With the bomb that was dropped on us last night, it’s a given.

Everyone went their own ways, Grayson and Sadie to their rooms and Declan to one of the guest rooms.

I stayed downstairs, wound up, and unable to pull myself out of the mindset the night had put me in, not getting a moment of sleep. My eyes are heavy and sore, my head is a fucking mess, and I feel like I’m on the edge of hysteria.

He fucking married her!That mother fucking snake. He couldn’t stand the idea of sharing her, not making it a secret that he wanted her to himself.

But to go this far, to marry her behind our backs, makes me want to wrap my hands around his neck and choke the damn life out of him.

They said it was to protect Sadie, and sure, their reasoning seems valid, but there had to be something else,anythingelse.

Maybe I’m just in denial, or it's the all-consuming jealousy coursing through my veins speaking. It’s not just that he’s married to the girl who has dug her claws into my heart and refuses to let go, but that he also got to sever ties to his last name.The last name that linked us to a monster. I hate it. I hate them. I hate everything about my whole fucking life.

But what I hate the most is that he’s right. His name holds a hell of a lot more power than most of the families in our world. One more fucking thing he can hold over me.

It wasn’t enough that he got a mom who loves him and a carefree life where he didn’t have to worry about any fucking thing, but now he gets a new name and my fucking girl?!

Sadie might have said that she’s not choosing, but it sure as hell feels like she is. She’s legally his. At any point, she could cut ties with us and be done. But him? He would never let her go. He’s got exactly what he wanted.

Well, fuck that!

I’m not going down without a fight.

I’m done with this little pity party. Fuck my dad, fuck my brother, and fuck the whole damn world. I’m done holding back. I’m taking what's mine: Declan and Collin’s pretty new wife.

Cocky bastard can watch me fuck his wife and listen to her scream my name as she cums around my cock, because I’m not going anywhere.

“Fuck it.” Storming out of the house, I get in my car and head in the direction of the club to grab what I need. There's a part of me that knows this isn’t going to work, and I’m about to make a fool out of myself, but I’m not ashamed to admit I’m pretty damn desperate right now.

Blame it on the delusion this stage of exhaustion has put me in.

A HALF HOUR LATER,I’m at Collin’s house, banging on his front door.

The door swings open and some old man stands there staring at me with wide eyes. “What can I–” he starts, but I push past him, not giving him time to finish his sentence.

Adrenaline is coursing through my body, and I know it’s about to make me do dumb things, but I can’t seem to find it in me to care.

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