Page 46 of Bound by Vengeance
Emery’s mouth falls open, her eyes bulging out. “What?” she whispers softly.
“Yep. And asshole over there”—she points at me—“went and told my father that something was up with me, so they were going to force Deke’s hand. Therefore, I had to tell.”
Austyn reaches into a cabinet, pulling out a glass then pouring some juice into it. Taking a quick drink, she then says, “Yep, so now everyone is going to know my big secret.”
Emery moves fast, wrapping her arms around Austyn. Whispered words are said that I can’t hear. Emery doesn’t let go of her for a long time. When she does, they both are misty-eyed. Austyn does everything in her power to avoid me like I’m the plague.
“Do you want something to eat?” Emery asks me, obviously understanding Austyn’s cold shoulder.
Just then, a knock comes at the door and I move to answer it. Nox stands on the other side.
“Hello!” he calls out, stepping inside the apartment with a wide smile, and I take this as a sign.
“You stayin’ for a while?”
“Yep.” He looks over at his sister, still smiling.
“Good. I’m heading out for a bit. Stay until I get back.”
Emery gasps from behind me. I know why. I haven’t left Austyn’s side since I started being her protection. But I know she needs a break from me to gather herself, so I’m going to give it to her. Anyway, I really need to get on my bike and ride for a while.
“Sure, yeah, no problem.” Nox’s focus skips between the three of us. I don’t care what he’s thinking.
I make my way to Austyn’s room and lace up my boots. Austyn’s saying something in the kitchen. I can’t make out what it is, but it has a very hostile tone.
Grabbing my keys, I head back into the main room, and yes, Austyn is still firing daggers at me.
“I’m gonna head out for a while. Be back in a bit.”
“Good,” Austyn says just as I slam the door shut.
I need the wind in my face and sun on my skin. Pulling out a smoke, that’s exactly what I do while I think about how I’m going to patch things over with Austyn.
I need a ride. The air, the freedom, and time to soothe the rage inside me that wants to rip JK limb from limb.
This is far from over, my beautiful woman. No, Austyn Cruz, this is just the beginning.
C H A P T E R S I X T E E N
My bravado leaves once the door closes. I fall onto the couch like a sack of leaves, my energy draining quickly. Closing my eyes does nothing to help the messed-up, twisted feelings swirling inside me, threatening to take over and implode around me. I flex my fingers, hoping to release the tension forming in me, but do a shit job at it.
Being slammed in the face with a two-by-four will do that to a woman. It’s exactly what happened to me last night, having to expose something that should’ve remained buried. It’s left me raw and wide open, so wide all the anger is focused on Ryker for starting all this. That’s an emotion I hack very well—anger—but it’s exhausting.
Nox plops down next to me, patting me on the leg. “What’s goin’ on with you?”
Staring up at the ceiling, I tell him, “If I’d have known you were coming, I could’ve saved the big reveal for both of you at the same time.”
“Austyn,” Emery chastises my smart-ass remark, but I ignore her.
“I went up to Deke’s to terminate my pregnancy.”
The couch shakes from Nox’s response. “Holy fuck.”
I don’t bother looking at him, but with him being my twin and being together our entire lives, I’m sure his face is turning red and the vein in his neck is starting to thump harder. His fists are probably clamped tight, and I can he’s breathing out of his mouth more than his nose.
“Who’s the father?” he asks curtly. See? Pissed off.
“That, I’m not discussing. I’m also not discussing why I did it. All you need to know is what I told you.” Being a broken record and saying the same things repeatedly is tiring. It must end because my emotions can’t keep going through the wringer.
