Page 7 of Seduced By Two Alphas

Did he have shit for brains. I owned Casey’s Café. Of course I’d put long hours in, worried about payroll and inventory, new recipes and returning customers. This was my dream, my conception, my baby. I’d slept in my office when I’d first opened the café, always worrying something would go wrong, that a fire would break out or any number of things might happen. New business owners were always worried.

Albert hadn’t the first clue what hard labor and sweat felt like. Hadn’t the first clue what sacrifice meant. I’d nearly ruined myself dating him. Instead of concentrating on my business, I’d been too busy chasing behind him to get my head out of my ass.

It hadn’t been until I’d found him with another guy that I’d finally woken up and seen the wreck I’d been making of my life. Not even Dillon had been able to talk sense into me.

I chose to ignore Albert’s comment, tamping down my irritation at his cavalier way of thinking about my business. God, what had I been thinking? No amount of jealousy made me want to play nice with him.

“I’ll have to be more specific, huh?”

I rolled my eyes. Albert had been so busy bragging about whatever he’d been bragging about—I honestly hadn’t been listening—that he finally realized what I’d said. The bile returned.

“On the menu.” I gave a tight smile. “Be more specific about what you want to eat.”

His gaze slid over me, and I couldn’t do this anymore. I couldn’t pretend I was interested in him, even if it had hurt to see Ken openly flirting with Brandon. Of course, their interaction could have been harmless, but after what Albert had done to me, I’d been left with huge trust issues.

And he wasn’t even half as good-looking as Ken and Jack. For them, I’d probably sink my business right into the Gulf Coast.

“Brandon, take his to-go order,” I said as I walked away.

“But…wait!” Albert slipped from the booth. I braced myself and looked over my shoulder, ready to give him an earful, when I noticed how close Jack had gotten to him.

My jaw dropped at the look on his face, the most lethal one I’d ever seen on him. Jack looked as if he was going in for the kill.

He might have looked the same way the night I’d been rescued, but I’d been too distraught to pay attention.

I was paying attention now.

Even Ken’s easygoing smile had vanished. What had I just set into motion? That stupid game no longer seemed important. I was dealing with two fully grown bears who were about to rip Albert apart.

“Go.” I moved swiftly back to Albert’s table. I didn’t even care that I yanked him out of the booth so fast he nearly fell on his face. “Go, get out now!”

Albert stood there staring at me as if I were the crazy one. “But you just said—”

I shoved him toward the door. “When will you get it through your thick skull that we’re no longer a couple? We will never be a couple again, and I don’t want you around, you two-timing piece of trash!”

I’d lost my mind. That was the only explanation for what was happening, for the way I’d acted, but as much as I despised Albert, I didn’t want him dead.

“You’re twisted,” Albert spat as I shoved him out the door. “Crazy as fuck, Casey!”

At least Albert was shouting from outside, where he was still breathing.

When I turned my attention back into the room, all eyes were on me. “Go back to eating. The show is over.”

“A word with you.” Ken gripped my arm and moved me quickly toward the kitchen. I could barely keep my feet under me with his speed.

“Don’t forget I’m the boss.” I snarled the reminder.

“I don’t know what game you’re playing, but—”

“Me?” I shouted. “I wasn’t the one in there flirting with the new hire!”

“Lower. Your. Voice.”

His tone took me by surprise. I stepped back, placing my hand over my chest. God, once again I’d been an idiot with Albert. I’d let my confusing emotions as far as the brothers were concerned turn me into a lunatic. Was I destined to be that way around men that interested me, no practical thought whatsoever? Not that I was interested in Albert, but I was starting to see a pattern that wasn’t very flattering.

“For your information, I wasn’t out there flirting with anyone.”

Jack walked into the kitchen, his gaze bouncing between us. He was the quiet one, the one who seemed more in control, the brother who looked the most menacing even when he wasn't trying to look menacing.

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