Page 16 of Irredeemable

“Don’t insult me with that stupid shit. And before you make a dumb remark about Madeline, I used a condom with her.”

I cross my arms, staying quiet because I had been ready to comment. Though some part of me knew I was safe with him, even after the hateful bullshit he spewed earlier.

“What now?” He asks, rubbing a tired hand down his face. His eyes watch with a yearning that has me panicking. I swallow down any emotion that feels anything for him and tilt my head mockingly.

With a wicked smile, I nod toward the door. “Now you return to your perfect princess since you got what you wanted. Maybe I’ll see you the next time you have another girlfriend.”

Tanner stared blankly at me, his dark eyes turning into an abyss from which I couldn’t look away. It felt like he was trying to pull my soul out.

Then he blinks and then laughs. “There won’t be another. I had my mother pull out Granny’s ring from the safe. I can already hear the wedding bells.”

My throat burns, and my tongue tingles as I struggle to keep an impassive mask. Granny’s ring was a family heirloom that Tanner had shown all of us. He had explained to Jasmine, Dean, and me that it was going to the love of his life, the mother of his children. The emotion from earlier came roaring back, and it is shredding me apart.

“Get out," I grit through clenched teeth.

He smirks. “Always the whore, and never the bride. Or actually not even the girlfriend.”

I pick up the candle sitting on my counter and throw it at him. He smacks it away, blinking in shock that I had been so close to actually harming him.

“Get out. We’re done.We’re so fucking done. I never want to see or hear from you again.” I scream. I knew I would probably be embarrassed by my outburst in the morning, but it was either screaming or crying. And I’ll be damned if I cry in front of him.

Tanner backs up with his hands raised. “That’s fine by me. Consider the illusion broken; it wasn’t as good as I thought it would be.”

“I fucking hate you," I cry out, grabbing whatever is closest to me and throwing it as he starts to jog towards the front door.

“The feeling is fucking mutual, baby,” He shouts over his shoulder as he slams the door.

My chin quivers, and my nose flares as I crumple to the floor, letting the dam break free.

Sammie

Whenindoubt,fleethe fucking country. Leave everyone behind without notice and lose yourself in a foreign land. The lights of the club are blurry as I dance in the sweaty crowd, my arms raised as I twist my body against the handsome man who has been buying me drinks all night.

“Bellissima,are you ready to leave?” He kisses my neck, his accent sending shivers straight to my nipples. He could tell me he was going to kill me and chop my body into pieces, and I wouldn't give a shit as long as it was in his language and that accent.

I nod, entwining my fingers in his resting on my stomach, and press my ass into him as we dance sensually for a few moments. The scruff along his jaw scratches at my neck as his hand drifts down to cup my pussy through my jeans.

“Time to go, pretty girl.” He snaps his fingers, and a couple of security guards press people away from us. I think he owned the club or something, all I knew when I walked in was that he was the hottest man here and had a dangerously sexy aura about him. Fingers crossed, he knew how to fuck.

Giggling, I stumble a bit for show. He caught me, grinning down with a look of promise. I wasn’t nearly as drunk as he thought I was. If I inherently anything worthy from my mother, it was an iron stomach and the ability to never really feel buzzed. But if a man thought you were plastered, they don’t expect much from you in bed.

They lead us outside, where a large black Escalade is waiting. The giant car is not one I expect in the streets of Italy and reminds me of home.

I slid into the back seat, and he followed me. The two muscular men moved to the front. Nerves ran through me now, the alcohol making me a little more relaxed than normal.

“Where are we going?”

He smiles. “A local hotel. I hope it doesn’t offend you that I do not take strangers to my house.”

Laughing, I relax into the seat. “No, not at all. I would have preferred the hotel if you had offered.”

“What’s your name?” His soft lips kiss my collarbone, pulling the straps of my dress down. I’m glad he didn’t try to kiss my lips.

“Does it matter? Why can’t we just have tonight and never see each other again? No need for names.” My tone comes out harsher than I intended.

He pulls back, a curious gaze roaming over my face. “Sure,Bellissima. A night of mystery then.”

“Good. I can check off ‘ride an Italian stallion’ off my bucket list before I go home,” I say with a soft giggle.

---