Page 173 of Extra Dirty

WILDFIRE BY SEAFRET

Cat

Storming out of the reception tent, I play the part of angry wife perfectly. When I hit the long gravel driveway, no doubt ruining my heels, I pay no mind to the gorgeous oak trees that tower above me or the caterers that stumble past carrying trays full of dessert selections.

“Great, now I’m going to miss the cake cutting,” I grumble.

Before I can stop it, my foot slips on the gravel, and my ankle twists. But as my body flails forward, an arm wraps around me from behind, and a deep, familiar voice rumbles in my ear. “Careful, Princess.”

For a moment, I’d hoped it was Jay. That he’d changed his mind. That he’d take me away from all of this himself.

I curse at the sky as Frank spins me around and pulls me against his chest. The faint smell of his soap tickles my nose and takes control of my senses. “Let’s get out of here.”

The familiar scent steals the fight from me, but I pull him to a stop. “You can’t leave your best friend’s wedding. Cash will never forgive you. Or me!”

But he doesn’t stop. He only grips my hand firmly in his and drags me away from the wedding. “Pretty sure he’d kill me if anything happened to you, Princess. He won’t even notice I’m gone. He only has eyes for two people right now, Grace and Hope.”

I sag in acceptance. My brother is infatuated.

“All Jay told me was to wait for you. He didn’t say we were leaving. Where are we going?”

“So many questions.” He hits me with a rare smile.

Knowing he won’t give in until he’s ready to, I give up my inquiry and trudge along beside him, watching my step so I don’t slip again.

When he stops beside a small black Aston Martin, I smirk. “Didn’t peg you as the little car type, Irish.”

The man smolders as he opens my door, but he blocks me from entering, forcing my body flush against his. “Stop.”

I shrug innocently. “No idea what you’re talking about.”

“You’re flirting. Youcan’tflirt with me.”

Deflating, I drop my chin. “It’s a defense mechanism. Sorry. But you should be used to it. I’ve been flirting with you for years.”

“And now we’ve fucked. I know what it feels like to be inside you,” he rumbles, his voice taking on a gravel that scrapes at me. He grips my hips and digs his fingers in. “I know what sounds you make when you come around my cock. I know what these lips taste like,” he says quietly, closer,too close.

What the hell was my husband thinking, sending me away with Frank? This was a really bad idea.

He squeezes my hip to get my attention. “We played a dangerous game,” he says when I finally turn back. “But it was just a game. I know it and so do you. You love that man, and he would give up the world for you. Get in the car. Let’s make sure we get you to safety like I promised him.”

* * *

As we cruiseover the Mount Hope Bridge and away from Bristol, my mind reels. The glistening navy water below us is covered in a pink sheen from the setting sun. The silhouette of the lighthouse stands tall in the middle of the water, holding strong as waves crash against it almost ominously. The sun sinks deeper below the horizon, and with it, I sink farther into the leather seat.

Soon, the sun will disappear completely, and the moon will appear.

Seems appropriate. With me gone, Jay can do what he must. What exactly is he doing, though?

When the text came in from Vanessa, Jay told me how she’d been working with Frank’s brother. How she essentially blackmailed him but also saved me in the process.

To say I’m conflicted over the entire thing would be putting it too lightly. Jay and Vanessa almost destroyed my brothers. While I understood Jay’s reasoning, it was a hard thing to swallow. Up until an hour ago, we believed her text message was just a ploy to get more money. Now I’m not sure what to believe.

“Did Jay tell you about the necklace?”

Frank’s knuckles whiten as he grips the steering wheel tightly and silently glances at the symbol hanging over my heart.

“Did you know that Jay and I share a brother?” I ask, going for shock value.

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