Page 119 of Wine & Whiskey
“Then, there’s nothing more I can say. You begged me not to run and, in the end, it was you who gave up on us. Now, all I can do is try and get over you the best I can.”
“With Evan?”
“I don’t know.”
Fury flames in his chest. He’ll never let that fucking happen. “He’s not the man for you.”
“Maybe not. But the one who is rejected my love and broke my heart.”
Evan interrupts their conversation. “This is ridiculous. She’s through talking to you.”
Nick’s body stiffens, rage burning through him at this stupid bastard trying to control her, but he keeps his eyes on her angelic face. “No matter what happens, I need to keep you safe. Please don’t let him talk you into leaving again without security.”
“She doesn’t need you. I’m taking care of her now.”
“I love you, Shae, even if you don’t believe it anymore.”
“You aren’t fooling anyone.” Evan’s voice drips with disgust. “Even with your bodyguards and money, you’re nothing but a thug.”
“Evan! Just stop it!”
The first time he's ever heard her raise her voice. He can’t help but smile it’s aimed at Evan, even though he knows he deserves it more. “It’s okay, sweetness. You don’t have to defend me.”
“What he said isn’t true. I don’t think that.”
Both her hands squeeze his arm, her intensity weakening his resolve to stay away from her. He has to get himself together before he hurts her any more than he already has. “Don’t apologize for him. We’ll follow you back to your house. When everything quiets down, we’ll talk some more. Okay?” He steps back and turns to Evan, thinking of only her soft smile and nodding head to keep from beating the smirk off his face. “If you let anything happen to her, I’ll fucking kill you myself.”
Her smile fades, and she shivers before wrapping her arms around herself. He forces himself to walk to the limo, to leave her with that fucking bastard. For the last time.
“Come on, Shae. We’re going home.”
“No. I can’t do this. You’re suffocating me. I’m sorry, but I’ve made up my mind. I don’t want to marry you.”
“You’re just letting Nick upset you. Let’s go home. You’ll calm down, and everything will be okay.”
Nick stops at the argument behind him. Fuck this.She needs him.
“It’s too late for us. I can’t be with you.”
“Get in the car.”
“No, Evan, let go. You’re hurting me.”
Fuck no.Now he has to die. Nick races back toward him.
Shae’s hands fly to her face as she screams. “Max! Stop him! He’ll kill him!”
“Never fucking touch her!” Evan stiffens and curls his fingers into fists, ready to fight. But, this motherfucker better know it’s going to be all one-sided. His punch pounds Evan’s face with a resounding crack of bone before Max pulls him off. “You never fucking touch her!”
Evan lies motionless on the ground, his jaw swelling to an unrecognizable shape. Nick jerks away from Max and the other guys holding him back, his eyes trained on Shae. She stumbles back to the car and drops into the seat, never taking her eyes off her chirping phone.
