Page 109 of Wine & Whiskey
She shakes her head and shoves the plate toward him. “I make. He no eat.”
“I know. I’ll try in a little bit.”
She throws her hands up in the air and mumbles under her breath as she walks away. After the door closes, he sets the food on the side table next to an unopened bottle of whiskey and Nick’s phone. He drops down in the chair facing the chaise. It’s going to be a long night.
“Have a drink.” Nick’s words slur worse than his aim, as he pours a glass for Max, about half of the amber liquid making it into the tumbler.
“I talked to Shae. She’s not moving back.” Not that he can blame her. No woman would consent to Nick’s unrealistic demands after having her heart broken, even one as patient and tolerant as Shae. Her sweet nature not enough to repair the damage Nick has caused.
“You need to—”
“It’s already taken care of.”
Six years ago when he took this job, Nick was living hard and fast, with too much money and freedom. Thrust into their world after the attempt on his father’s life by his number two in command, Nick stepped up and took the reins. Too arrogant to know he should be scared, he bulldozed his enemies and made an example out of the coup leader. Not because he loved his father, but because it was either that or die.
Now, Nick rules an empire he doesn’t want, yet accepts his fate for what it is. Until Shae came along. Just like a drug, one taste of a normal relationship with a sweet, beautiful woman, and the addiction took hold. Withdrawal will be slow and painful.
Nick shakes his head, his unfocused eyes swimming in the alcohol flowing through his body. “I can’t let anything happen to her.”
“I know. She’s worried about you too.”
Nick rubs his thumb across the etched letters on the prismed bottle before laying his head back. “She loved it out here. This was her favorite spot.” Whiskey sloshes up the sides as he taps the cushion. “I could have taken her anywhere in the fucking world, but she was happy right here.”
Max nods. Nick talks to himself more than him. Telling him what he already knows.
“She fucking owned me. I would have done anything for her.”
“I know.”
“The fucked-up part is, she didn’t even know it. She never asked me for anything or wanted anything.”
“Nope.”
“I had that ring made. It was like fucking twenty-two carats or some fucked-up shit, and I don’t think she cared. I could have given her a plastic band, and she would have been happy.”
“Yep.”
“I mean, I gave her that fucking chocolate cake, and she was fucking thrilled.”
A smile crosses Max’s lips. Shae does love her sweets.
“Why did I fuck it up?”
“I don’t know.”
He catches Nick’s phone as it vibrates off the table. “Are you going to read these messages?”
Nick’s answer is a long drink, emptying the bottle.
Max’s stomach turns as he scrolls through the string of messages, never expecting Nick to deny himself the only thing he’s ever wanted. To hurt the only woman he’s ever loved. “Fucking shit!”
“What?”
“You’ve really fucked this up.”
“Read it!”
Max takes a deep breath, pain for both of his friends clenching in his gut at the words. “‘This is Carrie. I hope you’re fucking happy. You promised you would never hurt her, and now you’ve destroyed her.’”
Shards of glass sprinkle across the tops of Max’s shoes from the bottle bursting against the railing. He can’t help but roll his eyes to the cloudless sky. “You’re one fucked-up motherfucker.”
Nick breaks the seal on the other bottle. “Like father, like son.”
