Page 86 of Love Triggered

“Ahh, the grand ‘we should talk’ line... Should I be worried? Are you dumping me?!” I’m trying to lighten the mood but my jokes rarely ever help. It's been weird between us since she found out about the whole Greyson thing, so I’m sure it’s that.

“Oh, shush. It’s about Greyson. I’m sure you could have guessed that, but still.” She looks down at her hands, then back at me. “Are you sure, Lane? Like, really sure? He hasn’t pressured you into something, or threatened you, or anything like that? I just... I think somewhere deep down he had good intentions with me, but he really didn’t go about it the right way. So I need to know...” Her voice trails off and I can see the worry in her eyes.

“Lee, he hasn’t pressured me or forced me into anything at all. He’s been sweet and kind. Sure, he’s got his issues and problems, but who doesn’t?”

“Hmm, I guess. I won’t lie to you, I still hate the idea of you two being together, but I’m not blind. I see the way you look at each other. It’s the same way my guys and I look at each other.” She clasps my hand, threading her fingers through mine.

“I get that, and I understand. Honestly, you’ve taken it better than I expected. I... I never meant to hurt you. Please know that—I didn’t mean for this to happen. I’m not going to say I regret being with him, because I don’t, but I do regret not being honest with you.” My bottom lip is quivering now and my voice is beginning to crack. “It kind of just happened and there was no stopping it. The electricity that runs between us is something unimaginable, something I never expected to have.”

It’s the truth. Greyson came into my life like a tsunami and I was a paddleboat trying to escape the storm. It was impossible to prevent what was inevitable. He swept me up into his sea of madness, but the moment I hit the water, the storm became calm and my fear of drowning dropped away.

“Can I ask something?” She looks at me tentatively, like she’s about to drop the biggest bomb ever. I just nod my head, bracing myself for the explosion.

“Is it weird... umm... being with him after... you know, him and I?” She looks like she’s extremely uncomfortable asking that, but I know it’s a valid question.

“At first, it was definitely weird. It was something that I thought about, but now it really doesn’t bother me. Is it strange that he’s slept with my sister? Yeah, not going to lie—that’s a daytime television storyline right there. But what’s done is done. If I want to be with him—and I do—it shouldn’t matter to me. No point in dwelling on what I can’t change. What about you? How do you feel?”

I’ve thought about it a lot, and letting it go is all I really can do. He turns my world upside down and I don’t want it to stop so I’m moving forward, trying to let go of the past.

Lya sighs. “It makes me feel awkward, but if you’re good, maybe I’ll get there one day. Bottom line is, it’s going to take me time to get comfortable with the idea of him in your life. Considering, you know, the whole kidnapping and drugging thing. I’ll try for your sake but I can’t make any promises. And if he hurts even one hair on your head, I will hang him by the balls and give him a slow painful death, okay?”

I can’t help but grin at her protectiveness. I used to be the brave, protective one when we were kids, but now she’s all grown up and our roles have reversed. She’s become such a badass and I couldn’t be more proud.

“I’d expect nothing less.”

We’ve come a long way since I’ve been back. We’ve butted heads more times than I can count. I’ve been an awful, ungrateful sister some of the time and she’s been way too overbearing at other times, but that’s just part of what comes with being siblings.

I’d like to think we would’ve had this fierce banter during our whole childhood together, but who knows for sure? All I can say now is that I finally have my family back and I don’t want to waste one more minute of it.

“Good, now let’s go. Although we have a disgusting pig to take down, I still want to spend time with my sister. So get dressed—we’re going to Star of India for lunch, and then we can go do whatever you want.” She gives me a beaming smile. She looks so beautiful and carefree; I’ve missed seeing her like this.

“Sounds like a plan, but if I have to hear about Tara’s most recent cock appointment, I might have to cut my ears off. I love the girl, but she rides more dick than should be legal. I don’t need to hear all of the details every time.”

Lya lets out a full-blown belly laugh. “Good luck getting her to stop talking about it,” she says as she walks to the door.

I quickly change and head downstairs to find her waiting for me by the door. It’ll be good to have time together as just the two of us; we rarely ever do these days.

We walk outside and jump into her Audi, heading to Star of India. The air is relaxed, and I wish everything could stay this way forever.

But I know a storm is brewing with Harvey, and we’re directly in its path.

Today’s the day we take Sutton down. I can finally get my hands on the man who destroyed Lainey’s life.

Well, one of the men who destroyed her, since I took care of the other one five years ago.

Excitement hums through my body at the thought of Sutton’s blood on my hands, just like my father’s. I can’t wait to get that asshole alone in the back room and make him regret ever messing with my girl.

I’d murder anyone in the world who laid a finger on her.Maybe when I kill this bastard, I can find those names and take them out with my bare hands.

“Yo, Nash, you listening?” Rian’s voice pulls me from my sadistic thoughts. I can almost feel the hatred radiating off of him.

I clear my throat, throwing my gaze down to the hood of the G-Wagon where he’s pointing at a blueprint of the warehouse we chose. I have no idea how he got this, but it’s helpful. “Yeah, I’m listening.”

“Mmhmm...” He snorts. “Well, this is where we’ll be set up, and this is where the girls will be hiding.” He points to the main area then moves his finger over to a side room. This warehouse is a medium size, so there aren’t a lot of rooms to get lost in.

“I don’t like the idea that Lainey will be there,” I state, for the fourth time since we’ve finalized this plan. It seems too risky. The thought of her that close to danger doesn’t sit well with me, but she’s determined to be there. She’s found her confidence and bravery—which I’m proud of, but it scares the shit out of me when it puts her at risk like this.

“We don’t either, but this is how it has to go. Both girls want to go. We need them there, so we can have eyes on them. We know better than anyone not to let your girl out of your sight, because you never know what can happen. They want to come with us, so this is the most secure place for them to be. If Sutton only brings three guys with him like Lainey said he usually does, it’ll be four on four. Even if he brings one or two extra, we can take them down easily,” Rian states calmly.

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