Page 6 of Under the Influence
All the words she probably wanted to say that night after the shock wore off and never had the opportunity. Until now. So I take the abuse she doles out. I fucking deserve her wrath, and Iknowshe’s fucking earned the right to lash out at me with her furious accusations. Well aware she has no idea the truth behind myactions.
“I was a fool for even going out with you in the first place. But I won’t make that mistake again. I’ll never, ever give you anotherchance.”
Her voice breaks on the last words. For the second time, I’ve made her cry. Killing me that I keep fucking up and hurting the only woman I’ve ever loved. “Books,I?”
“I don’t want to hearit.”
She swipes at the beads glistening on her flushed cheeks, looking up at the recessed lights to gather her composure, and blows out a longbreath.
“Will you please just take me back to get my phone andcoat?”
Damn it. I’ll allow her to retrieve her belongings, but this discussion is far from finished. She’s still coming home with me so I can prove how mistaken she is and how fucking sorry I’ve alwaysbeen.
I shrug off my jacket and drape the black fabric around her trembling body. Covering the gaping hole in her skirt. “I’ll buy you anotherdress.”
Hell, I’ll buy her anything she fucking wants for her not to be angry withme.
Jerking away from my caress on her drooping shoulder, she stands up to her full height. All maybe five three of her and stares me down as much as she can a foot underneath me. Fuck me if she’s not magnificent even in her rage. Unafraid of me towering over her. “I don’t want anything from you except for you to leave mealone.”
All I can do is watch her twist on her heel and march to the door. Each step stronger than the last in her haste to get away from me. Of course, my strides are almost twice as long, and I catch up with her just as her delicate fingers grip the knob, and I palm the cool wood to keep her from leaving. “This isn’tover.”
“Yes, it is. You made very sure of that the last time I sawyou.”
The brutality of my actions pulse in her strained whisper. Still raw and bitter after all this time. Jesus. I’m a fucking bastard. Torturing her with a cruelty that night she never deserved, to ensure our breakup was clear and final. Forcing me now to overcome my own idiocy. To prove how completely wrong Iwas.
Yet I refuse to make her cry again and step back, allowing her to twist the handle and storm out. We walk in torturous silence down the hallway and through the reception area. Tilly’s faltering smile as we pass by her desk amplifies my defeat. But this setback is only temporarily. That’s for damn fuckingsure.
Chryseis jabs the button as soon as we step into the elevator, hugging the wall farthest from me during our downward journey. A visceral reminder of how thoroughly she despises me. Desperate to escape from mypresence.
She bolts between the still sliding doors when we return to the first floor. Like I’m ever going to let her walk away from me. I force myself to keep from touching her, floating like a shadow right behind her cute ass. Long strands of ebony hair billow backward in her rush, grazing against my crisp, white shirt. As stark and definitive as the animosity betweenus.
The party has spilled out into the foyer. About ten people mill about in small groups, chatting yet subdued as the festivities wind down. That dumb motherfucker beelines straight to her, separating from four other men whose pensive gazes flit between him and me. While Leighton’s eyes zero in on her. Well aware my leniency toward him wanes with each word out of his stupid assmouth.
“Are youokay?”
“Yes, of course.” She smiles at the moron, accepting her jacket and little sparkly purse that he holds out to her. Strained and pitiful with tear streaks still glistening on her pink skin while she attempts a carefree tone. “I’m sorry I was gone so long. I had to take careof?”
“Listen...” He clears his throat, looking down. Suddenly his loafers more interesting than her beautiful face. “…I don’t think this is going to workout.”
I swear to god she winces from hisadmission.
“You don’t understand. It’s not what you think.” Her voice falls lower. Calm and reasonable. Attempting to prevent the disaster playing out between them. “We were justtalking.”
“You’re a great girl and everything, but I don’t want any trouble.” He steps back. An awkward wave before his hand falls limp and glides into his jeans pocket. “I’m sorry. We can still be friends. I’m just…I’ll see youaround.”
Smart move, motherfucker. You just saved your own ass. Her delicate body trembles under my hand on her back. Doesn’t even register my touch. All of her attention focused onhim.
“Leighton, wait. I’m not with him.” Panic pulses in her tone, and she leans closer. “Please listen to me…I want to be withyou.”
Oh hell no. I’ll be god damned if she’s going to fucking beg him to be with her. Motherfucking bastard doesn’t deserve her. If he was any kind of man, he’d never have let her leave with me in the first place. I can’t help but sneer at his pussy ass. “You better get the fuck out of here before I fucking killyou.”
Genuine fear twitches through his rigid body, and he jerks his thumb over his shoulder. “I’ve got to go. Take care of yourself,Chryseis.”
Only a shaky gasp answers him as he turns and jogs back to his friends. One of the idiots even pats him on the shoulder. Supporting him for breaking her heart in front of everyone. Fury throbs in my muscles. This is never what I wanted. Him gone, yes. Her humiliated again, no. Now he really will die. I may be a fucking hypocrite but I don’t give a damn. No one will ever treat her like shit again. Including me. “Come on Chryseis. Let’sgo.”
Iwill not cry.
I refuse to break down and embarrass myself. Not in front of Giovanni. Not in front of the curious onlookers gathered in this crowded lobby with so many prying eyes upon us. On this enigmatic mobster. On pitiful me. Now that I’ve been dumped. Again. Two times in six months. With the shredded heart to proveit.
