Page 47 of Triumphant Kings

Opening the door, I step out into the hallway and start to head towards the class I should be in, when I find the second person in my life that I hate more than anything.

Based on the shocked, pissed off look on her face, she knows what just happened in the closet.

Surprisingly, I don’t care. I’m not ashamed of loving a man. Not just any man, but the best man I’ve ever known.

Not in the mood for her shit right now, I try to continue down the hall, but she steps in front of me.

“What the fuck was that!?” she hisses, getting in my face.

“I don’t know what you're talking about,” I droll. “I was just walking down the hall, trying to get to my class before you got in the way.”

She tsks, crossing her arms as she continues to glare at me. If looks could kill, I’d be dead on the ground. “Cut the crap, Preston. Declan just came out of the same door you did, looking freshly fucked.”

I continue to stare at her, not saying a word.

“You know what? Whatever, as long as it’s not Sadie, I don’t care if you fuck him. Enjoy your time now, because soon all of that shit is going to be done. Just be better about hiding it. The last thing I need is everyone knowing my future husband is fucking around with a man behind my back. I don’t need people thinking I’m with a closeted gay man.” She sighs dramatically like it’s the biggest inconvenience in the world.

My jaw tightens, anger building inside me. I’m about to tell her to get fucked when she pushes past me and takes off down the hall.

“Fucking bitch!” I growl. I hate her. I fucking despise her. Just being around her feels like she’s sucking the air out of my lungs and replacing it with poison.

I need to end things for good, tell my father there’s no fucking way in hell I’d ever marry her.

Sadie is safe from him for now, but there’s this fear inside me that if I push him too far, he’s going to snap. If he does, no one is safe.

I know for a fact that if he felt like he had nothing left or no control over anything, he would bring everyone down with him.

That's not something I’m willing to risk.

But I know I can’t continue to live this lie. Because it’s slowly killing me.

I’m not sure how just yet, but I need to be rid of her one way or another.

I’m not opposed to murder at this point. That's how desperate I am to get these monstrous people out of my life.

At this point, life in jail is starting to sound better by the day.

The only reason why I haven’t taken them both out myself is because it would take me away from the two people who keep me going.

Talk about a rock and a hard place.

Chapter 11

Sadie

So much has happened in the few short weeks since winter break, and I’ve hardly had a chance to breathe and process all the new changes.

It’s like one thing after another, and I can’t keep up. Not all of them have been bad, but most have contributed to some sort of stress.

Since talking with the guys about being more open with our relationship, all I can think about is what everyone is going to think.

Not that I necessarily care, but if they’re acting the way they are thinking I dumped Declan to be with Collin, what are they going to do when they know I’m dating both of them, not to mention my stepbrother?

Things have just calmed down regarding my marriage to Collin. This is opening up a whole new Pandora’s box.

But hey, I’m used to living life like I’m on a roller coaster at this point, why not continue the ride?

I don’t want to keep hiding, even if it adds another round of drama to my life. It hurts me more to pretend the men I love aren’t mine than it does to listen to the harsh words and judgmental looks I get from everyone.

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