Love Triangle Six Books of Torn Desire - Willow Winters Page 0,490

don’t want this life anymore. I can’t take this shit.

Not when it makes Kat doubt me and what we have. Rightfully so.

As the girls laugh and the door opens, I take my phone out of my pocket, peeking up to make sure none of the girls have theirs out.

No pictures.

That’s my second concern. The first is getting Kane and getting out of here. He’s had a good time; he’ll remember enough of it at least. I’m not interested in being here any longer than I have to be.

I’m distracted for only a moment. Half a second, but the moment I stop watching these girls, one of them breaks rule number one.

The second the blonde on the right pulls out her iPhone, turning and posing with her friend and Kane in the background, I snatch it from her. She gasps and tries to grab it back like this is a game and I’m making a move on her. Her smile widens and she lets out a small laugh, again trying to snatch it from me.

It takes her a minute to realize no matter how much she pulls on my arm and makes that girlish cry, I have no intention of giving it back.

“No pictures,” I tell her simply, my voice low and admonishing and my expression hard. I don’t have time for this shit or her antics. She knows what she’s doing and it’s not cute or funny.

I force myself to stare into her drunken hazel gaze until she looks down and then holds out her hand for it. The flirtation completely gone. “I get it,” she snaps.

I place the phone in her palm after I shut it off, and she huffs like I’m an asshole. I can see her biting her tongue wanting to tell me off and I can’t really blame her. She wouldn’t be the first. I’ve been slapped more times than I know. Mostly by women. Years of doing this have led to plenty of fights and unfortunate events.

I’ve beaten the shit out of assholes.

Called doctors and paid with cash for them to come to hotel rooms.

I’ve paid off cops, bouncers, bookies. Shit, I’ve seen it all, done it all. And I’m tired of this shit.

The bright green of the absinthe catches my eye as the blonde I just pissed off brings it to the coffee table. I watch as she sets it in the center and lines up three shot glasses before going back to the small kitchen only ten feet away to grab more out of a drawer.

Kane’s in the middle of the sofa, draping both arms across the back of it as Christi and the brunette cuddle up next to him. The sounds of them laughing and Kane saying something low as they huddle closer to him are barely on my mind as I turn my focus back to my phone.

I text the driver and let him know I’m going to need the car in about thirty minutes and send him the address.

It takes fifteen minutes for the alcohol to hit their systems. Heavy pours and three shots each will have them all out on their asses. Normally I’d feel bad cutting their party short, but I don’t give a shit. All I can think about is Kat.

I need to get back to her.

I plaster a smile on my face and roll up my sleeves. “Let me get it, doll,” I say as I make my way to the kitchen. “You sit back and relax,” I tell the blonde and take the bottle from her hands. I’ll be pouring the second round while they’re throwing back the first. She gives me a flirtatious smirk. “I knew you weren’t all asshole,” she says and then sits on her knees next to the coffee table. Too close, too presumptuous.

“You had it right the first time,” I tell her as I fill all six glasses and pass them out. “Let’s do a couple rounds and get this party started.”

Chapter Seven

KAT

I’m stronger than this. I deserve so much more.

They’re the words I breathe, then collapse on the floor.

My eyes close tight, the tears trapped, my lungs still.

I can’t speak the truth; I can’t fight the chill.

I’m stronger than this, I’ll tell myself till I rot.

But I know I’m a liar, and I know that I’m not.

Evan never texts me when he’s working, but he did tonight and I can’t take my eyes away from my phone because of it. My body’s still and my focus is nonexistent when