Page 20 of Dark Seduction

“Or was I the mistake?”

Both of them snap their attention to me. For the first time, I think they’re both seeing me. Seeing the man who has up until this point been the fucking golden retriever. The man who has sat idly by respecting her rules only to be betrayed the first chance they’d gotten. I stare at him, feeling the sting of betrayal. I trusted him, damn it. He was supposed to have my back, but now it was clear that he was lying to my face. My mind is racing with questions, but I couldn't find the words to voice them.

Betrayed by my best fucking friend.

MACK

One moment,I'm sharing an intimate moment with V in the backseat of a car, and the next, Burnt walks in on us, anger flashing in his eyes.

I watch as Burnt's furious gaze locks onto V, and before I can react, he launches himself at him, fists flying. It's a brawl born out of jealousy and misunderstanding, a clash of emotions that threatens to tear everything apart.

I scramble out of the car, my heart pounding with shock and embarrassment, as they wrestle and exchange heated words. They're fighting over me, treating me like a possession to be won. And I can't stand it.

My frustration reaches a boiling point, and I can't take it any longer. I have no intention of being the prize in some twisted rivalry.

"Enough!" I scream, my voice cutting through the chaos like a blade. They both freeze mid-sentence, turning to gape at me, as if they've forgotten I'm even there.

The silence that follows is heavy with tension, and I take a step forward, my eyes flashing with determination. "I won't be fought over like this," I declare, my voice unwavering. "I'm not a piece of meat for you two to stake a claim on. I deserve better than this."

My words seem to snap them out of their heated argument, and they exchange a guilty glance. Burnt steps back, his fists lowering, while V looks down at the ground, his shoulders heaving as he drags in shallow breaths.

I inhale deeply, regaining my composure. "I’m a human being," I say, my voice softer but no less resolute. "Not a possession. And I won't be part of this competition."

As I speak, I can feel V and Burnt's eyes on me, their anger still smoldering beneath the surface. They listen, their expressions a mix of frustration and regret, but it's clear they’re both still seething.

“I’ve tried to keep things professional with both of you,” I continue. “And trust me, it hasn’t been easy. Not at all. But you know what? Shit happens. Again, I’m human.” Casting my attention to Burnt, I soften my tone, but only a little. “This just happened. It could have happened with you and me in my apartment yesterday, but any chance of that got drowned out.”

Burnt’s lips quirk up into a barely noticeable smirk, while V looks on, only seeming to grow angrier.

“The truth is, the three of us, we fucking had something incredible. We could probably be incredible together in the long run, but not like this. Not if you’re both so possessive you’re willing to fight each other over it. It could never work.”

I take a moment to let my words sink in, and I can feel the weight of the situation pressing on all of us. V and Burnt exchange another glance, this one filled with a hint of realization. It's a painful truth we can't ignore any longer, and I hope that my words will serve as a wake-up call for both of them. We have something special, but it's not worth destroying each other over.

“What happened in the bathroom?” V asks, still clearly not happy.

“It doesn’t matter,” I snap. “And truthfully, it’s none of your business. Just because we’ve fucked doesn’t mean you get any say in who I fuck now. I could walk out on the street and fuck whomever I please, and it would have absolutely not one single thing to do with either of you.”

Judging by the way they both tense up, neither one of them like that.

“Neither one of you have a right to say what I do with my body, or my heart.”

V stands a little taller and places his hands on his hips. “I’ve never tried to dictate anything.” He points one finger in Burnt’s direction and continues. “It’s been this fucker all along. He’s the one acting like a jealous fool.”

V may think he has a good point, but sadly, all he’s done is proven mine. “You don’t get it,” I say, reaching for my coveralls and shoving my legs into them. “None of us can be together. Even if it was just Burnt, and it’s not, we’re three, not two. I could never be with you and not him.”

“Then why were you just fucking him after telling me to go fuck myself just yesterday?” Burnt grumbles.

Exasperation and frustration gnaw at me as I look between V and Burnt, realizing that neither of them fully grasps the complexity of our situation. It's as if they're locked in their own worlds, unable to see the bigger picture, and it's wearing on my patience as I try to navigate this tumultuous path we've found ourselves on.

Once I have my coveralls in place, I place my hands on my hips and meet their gaze one by one. “It won’t work. Forget it happened. Forget me. Forget the Villa. Forget this night. Just forget it all.” And with that, I storm towards the open bay door.

“Where are you going?” Burnt calls.

“Vanilla Villa,” I call back over my shoulder. “Somewhere I’m not treated like a toy, and where I can be with whoever I want without all hell breaking loose.”

V

Mack stormsout of the garage, leaving the two of us alone in silence. The door squeals shut behind her and her headlights flood through the dusty windows. I hear a car screech away; her tires spinning on the loose gravel drive in front of the apartment. “She’s gone,” he says.

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