Ruthless Kings - Laura Lee Page 0,54
her, before lifting the paper towel he’s holding against his head. Jazz winces when he reveals a nasty gash over his eyebrow.
“Reed and Ainsley took over. I didn’t think it was too bad at first, but the bleeding won’t stop. Fucker clocked me with a bottle before we took him down. I was hoping you had a butterfly stitch or something. Peyton disappeared after her little hissy fit, so I checked your room, but it was empty." He rolls his eyes. "Obviously. Anyway, as I was heading back downstairs, I thought I heard someone talking in here. I knocked, but no one answered, so I tried the handle, and the door swung open."
My eyes narrow. “The door was locked.”
Bentley's brows draw together. "Uh, no, it wasn't, dude."
“Yes, it was. I locked it myself.”
“Apparently not as well as you thought,” he says defensively.
Jazz looks at me in confusion—because we both know damn well the door was locked—before addressing Bentley. "I think I saw one in the first aid kit in the bathroom. Let me, uh, put some clean clothes on, and I'll help you out."
“Thanks, Jazzy.”
I wait for her to leave the room before laying into him. “What the hell, man? Were you fucking watching us?”
The bathroom door wasn’t wide open, but it wasn’t shut either, because I did lock the bedroom door, despite Bentley’s denial.
Bent shrugs. “What if I was?”
“That’s fucked up, dude.” My fists clench at my sides.
He scoffs. “Oh, screw you, Davenport. Whatever happened to, ‘I don’t care who she fucks, Bent. She’s just a means to an end’? Also, I’ve seen you screwing some chick before, and vice versa. In case you’ve forgotten, we’ve fucked the same girl at the same time, more than once.”
I shake my head. “Things are different now.”
“Why’s that?” His jaw clenches.
“Because she almost died!” I take a deep breath and lower my voice. “If I hadn’t gotten there in time, she would’ve fucking died, man.”
Bentley takes a deep breath. “I wasn’t watching you. I literally just got here as the shower was cutting off. I heard you talking about getting dressed or something, so I figured I’d wait it out.”
I swallow the lump in my throat as we stare each other down. “She’s mine, Bent, so you need to back the fuck off.”
“She didn’t seem to think so earlier tonight,” he challenges. “If anyone has the right to be pissed, it’s me, because I’m fairly certain you just enjoyed the fruits of my labor, and this isn’t the first time that’s happened.”
I take a step toward him. “Don’t do this, Bentley. I’m trying to be patient with you, and give you some leeway because I know everything that’s happened recently is reminding you of Carissa, but—”
Bentley shoots up from the bed and shoves me back a step. “Fuck you! Don’t bring her into this. She has nothing to do with this!”
I rub my jaw, trying to calm down. “Whatever you say, man.”
“Don’t fucking patronize me, dickhead.”
“Would you rather have me punch you in the face?” I suggest, flexing my fingers. “Because that can easily be arranged.”
“Hey!” Jazz shouts as she reenters the room. “What’s going on in here? What is the matter with you two?”
“Nothing,” Bentley and I mutter at the same time.
"Uh-huh," she says skeptically. "Bentley, in the bathroom, now. I’ll be there in a minute.” She stabs her finger in my direction. “You, I’ll talk to you tomorrow.”
Bentley heads into the bathroom like a good little boy and shuts the door behind him.
I fling my arm toward the ensuite. “I’m not leaving you alone with him.”
Jazz glares at me with the force of a thousand suns. “Do not ruin what just happened between us by behaving like a jealous prick.”
Ah, Christ, if she had said anything else, I would’ve kept fighting. Like, literally anything else.
"Fine." I take a step forward and pull Jazz's lips to mine. I infuse every bit of frustration I'm feeling into the kiss until she's clinging to me, desperate for more. "But if you want to get off again tonight, call me. I’ll be back in a heartbeat.”
Jazz smirks. “If I want to get off again tonight, my showerhead can do that for me just fine. He’s not nearly as moody as you are.”
I shake my head. “You’re a pain in my ass.”
“Likewise, cupcake.” Jazz pats my cheek then follows it with a kiss on the same spot. “Go home, Kingston. You have nothing to worry about. I’ll talk to you in the morning. Maybe we