Page 23 of Torment
Cole
Nothing out of the ordinary tonight. Busier than normal, though. We need more bodies in there.
Maverick
I’ll assign more before Rapture opens tomorrow. Thanks, man.
Slater
See you guys tomorrow.
I don’t chime in, having nothing to add. Shoving it back in my pocket, I glance over my shoulder one more time at the exit of the garage, then turn on my heel, heading back inside the casino.
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
The next morningI stand only half listening at our morning meeting. My teeth grind, hearing the voices of the men around me as Maverick rattles off assignments for the day. I paced the penthouse for hours, failing miserably to outrun the noise and smelling her everywhere. Eventually, I stopped trying to cage the demons, and let them feed.
Ashlynn’s face flashed behind my eyes again. Paled. Stunned. The moment I said it, the moment it landed. The moment I let her walk away. I’ve let it happen before, but this time felt different. Heavier.
You don’t hate me. You hate that you don’t.
I watched it carve through her and the betrayal bloom. At herself. And at me. She thought I disappeared and even though it was never true, it broke something in her.
I broke something in her.
We’ve been on a carousel since the night I found her again a little over a year ago. Spinning in the same circle while I waited for her to step off with me. I never expected it to slam violently to a stop, throwing both of us on our asses. When I give her my hand to lift her up, will she even take it? Or will she walk away for good?
I crack my neck at the thought of her refusing and running for good.
I’ll never let that happen.
A hand lands on my shoulder, and I debate cutting it off of whoever it belongs to. Glaring at it for a second too long, I lift my eyes to meet Maverick’s, his face unreadable.
“Incoming,” he whispers and nods behind me. Turning, I see Parker storming in our direction. Head held high, shoulders drawn back and flexing her fingers. Glancing over at him, his expressionless face tells me he isn’t surprised.
Neither am I.
“Sweetheart, what are you doing here?” He asks as she approaches.
“Not here for you,” she tells him. “I’m here foryou,”she barks, narrowing her eyes on me. Before coming to a stop, she lands a sharp right hook across my face.
The pit grows silent.
I roll with the hit. Flexing my jaw, my gaze slides over to where she stands shaking out her hand.
Damnit, she’s got an arm on her.
“What the fuck happened?” She demands.
“I don’t know what you mean, babe.”
“Karson,” Maverick warns.
“Don’t fuckingbabeme right now, Karson. I don’t know what’s going on with you and Ashlynn. But what I do know isshe’s currently on my couch and hasn’t said a fucking word since she showed up this morning.”
Fucking fucking fuuuuccckk.
“I fucking vouched for you. Told her you’re not that bad. I don’t know what you did, but fix it or I’ll drop you where you fucking stand.” It isn’t a threat, it’s a promise. “Don’t make me look like a liar.” She levels me with a glare, then pushes past me. Grabbing him by the collar, she gives Maverick a furious kiss, then leaves without giving me a chance to speak.
