Page 97 of Bitter Truths

“What’s going on, Max?” I ask instead.

Looking at his lap, Max clenches his hands. “When I was, you know, hanging out with Patch, I said some things, and I guess Patch shared them with his boss. I thought if Dad paid him what I owed, it would be good, but . . .”

“What did you say?” My frustration bleeds through in my tone, but I don’t fucking care. Is there no end to the mess he’s created?

Halsey squeezes my thigh, in warning, I assume, but I grab hers and squeeze right back because I’m not going to back off. These guys are no fucking joke, and whether we’re together or not, I refuse to see her get hurt—again.

“Well, I told him about your money, and I told him about the necklace.” His voice is whisper-soft, and I strain to hear him when he glances up and drops his gaze at my incredulous stare.

Fucker has no business talking about what’s mine. What I don’t fucking understand is why Max did this to begin with if he supposedly loved me so much. Shit. Except, I haven’t exactly been a stellar human being myself. It’s no secret I’ve done my fair share of stupid shit in the name of love.

“What about the necklace?” Halsey asks. “I mean, I know you said it’s a family heirloom, but what does that mean?”

“It means,” I interject with a grimace, “it’s worth enough money for those dicks to want it.”

“Huh?” she says, turning to me with her luminous eyes.

“It’s composed of a rare yellow diamond.” I avoid her gaze because I never told her its true value. That’s not why I gave it to her. Besides, I hate talking about my family and their riches. I want to make my own damn way in this world. Fuck them.

“I’m still confused why you would give me a necklace worth ten thousand dollars,” she says, her mouth curled in a frown. “I was fourteen.”

“More like twenty,” Max mutters.

She turns to me with wide eyes, her voice borderline screechy. “You gave me a necklace worth twenty-thousand dollars?”

“Yeah.” I shrug, and I’d give it to her again. The money is meaningless, but the pleasure on her face when she opened it? That was fucking priceless, and it kills me to know she wore it all that time, even knowing I hated her guts.

“Griff! I could’ve lost it. I’ve worn that thing for years. It should be in a safe or something.”

“It should be worn. It’s jewelry,” I say stubbornly.

“You’re insane,” she huffs.

I can’t help the smirk that curls my lip or the urge, so I peck her on the lips and growl, “Yes, I am.”

Blushing to the roots of her hair, she smiles before turning back to Max and the topic at hand. “Do they know how much it’s worth?”

Shamefacedly, he nods, and she sighs. “Oh, Max.”

“You put your sister in danger.” I’m close to flying over the couch and fucking up his world, but I clench my fist in my lap instead, looking away from his annoying face. Am I supposed to feel bad because he’s hurting? I don’t know, and I don’t fucking care.

“If that’s the case, why didn’t he take the necklace when he had the chance? I offered it to him when he met me at the bus station.” Halsey looks at Max with raised brows, but a roar rushes through my ears, and I go rigid with shock, missing his response. Did I just hear her right?

“He met you. And you were going to give him the necklace?” I bellow.

“I didn’t know what it was worth, and it was still warm from that bitch’s tits.” She gives me a dirty glare, and I sag into the couch.

Contemplating her sourly, I silently sigh because my anger is getting me nowhere. Instead, I smile devilishly and brush her hair back from her ear. “It’s hot when you’re jealous.”

She rolls her eyes at me dramatically but smiles. “Can’t we just tell them the necklace was returned to its rightful owner, and it’s long gone?”

“No,” Max says, glancing between us with a grimace.

“Why?” Halsey asks.

“Because you’re the rightful owner,” I say. I don’t want the fucking necklace back. I gave it to her because she’s my reason, and fuck if I’m going to take it back now.

“Fuck,” Aaron mutters, and I silently agree.

---