Page 34 of Beautiful Sinners

“Fuck you. You’re an asshole,” Aoife seethes and stomps her fine, infuriated ass into the back bedroom.

CHAPTER 12

The plane hits another pocket of turbulence, and I almost drop the laptop and Candace’s phone. I was lucky that I was able to catch Keith at closing since he stays late to oversee the cleaning and prep work for the next day.

“…says she’ll take your shifts.”

I miss most of what Keith says, but the important thing is he isn’t going to fire me. He was actually very understanding about me blowing off a week of work because of a family emergency. That’s the excuse I gave.

“You are hands-down the best boss I’ve ever had.”

Keith chuckles, which is a rarity. “I’m the only boss you’ve ever had. Hold on, Shelby wants to talk to you.”

There’s a staticky shuffling sound before Shelby’s cheerful voice comes over the line.

“Hey, country girl. I don’t want you to worry. Becs and I will cover your shifts. Everything okay?”

I hate lying to one of the only truly nice people in my life.

“It will be. And thank you so much for covering my ass. I owe you big time.”

“I’ll hold you to that. I hope you like babysitting rambunctious toddlers.”

I smile. I don’t know if I do or not since I’ve never been around young kids.

“Deal. Thanks again. Give Keith a big bear hug from me.”

“Will do. Sending good thoughts and virtual hugs your way.”

We hang up, and I open the bathroom door, ready to get out of the confined space and away from the godawful stench of disinfectant.

“Thanks for letting me borrow your phone,” I say to the person standing next to the door before I realize it’s Constantine and not Candace.

Half of his face looks like he got hit with a gender-reveal powder cannon. I set down the laptop and phone on the nearby jump seat before gently touching the bruises on his cheek.

“The swelling has gone down. Were you able to get some sleep?”

No, he mouths.Missed you.

My heart does a somersault inside my chest that has nothing to do with the jostling of the plane.

“Want to come lie down with me?”

I’m not tired and wouldn’t be able to fall asleep anyway, but I can help him relax, rub his head, give him whatever he needs so he can get a few minutes peace.

He nods yes.

I take his hand and turn around, ready to lead him to the back room, only to stop when I see one of the female crew members talking to Hendrix. No, not talking—flirting.

Jealousy rises swiftly. She’s blonde, busty, and looks too much like Serena. And until that very second, I hadn’t thought about all the women Hendrix has slept with over the years. I remember vividly the sounds coming from his bedroom when he was screwing Serena. How he told her before taking her upstairs that I was nobody. The way she stumbled into the kitchen the next morning, barely dressed and all sexed-up, looking thoroughly ravished and completely satisfied. And then the way she taunted me and made fun of my scars.

Those old insecurities well up like a summer thunderstorm. So does the red-hot rage when the woman touches Hendrix, the tease of her fingers down his arm telegraphing the message in big neon letters that she wants him. Something dark slithers up from that broken place inside me that whispers I will never be good enough or pretty enough or desirable enough for any man to want me. I tell it to go fuck itself because Hendrix ismine, just as Tristan and Constantine are mine. We were ripped apart from each other for ten years, and I’ll be damned if I allow anyone else to come between us.

I’m snatching her wrist and yanking her hand off him before I realize I’ve even moved.

“You touch him again, and I will break your fucking hand.”

I’m ashamed of the thrill I get at the fear I see in her eyes when I snap her wrist back, and she starts crying.

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