I grab some things from the bag and enter the bathroom. She’s standing at the sink, washing her face. Her narrowed eyes meet mine before they drop to the cuffs and collar in my hands. “I’m not in the mood.” She turns off the water and grabs a towel.
I smile to myself. The honeymoon isn’t over yet. “I’ll take that challenge.”
EVERETT
Kashton brings the car to a stop in the circle drive at Carnage. I stay in the passenger seat until he opens my door. It’s not that I can’t do it myself, it’s because I’m reluctant to return. Worried about how things will go.
It’s been over a week since I ran out of here and he chased me to the run-down motel. Kashton told me he’s been avoiding his brothers, and I hate that I’m the reason. They are all he has. I don’t want to come between them.
I could feel the tension between them when we had our meeting at Blackout. And I never asked Kashton what was said after I went up to the apartment. He didn’t offer up any information, so I figured he didn’t want to share.
He grabs my hand, and we enter the building and ride up to their office in silence. He holds the door for me, and we step into the room.
Saint and Haidyn are arguing but stop mid-sentence when we walk in. All eyes swing to us. Even Ashtyn and Charlotte are present.
Haidyn turns to fully face us and takes a step in our direction.
I step back, but Kashton’s hand in mine stops my retreat. So does Haidyn. He looks away and runs a hand down his face. I’m not ready to have the uncomfortable conversation with him. That’s why Kashton is going to do it alone. We discussed it on the way back from New York.
“Will you girls give me and my brothers a minute?” Kashton asks, breaking the uncomfortable silence.
Ashtyn looks like she wants to stay, but Saint takes her hand, pulling her from his chair, silently telling her to get the fuck out. Charlotte kisses mybrother on the cheek, and Kashton turns to face me. “I’ll be right there,” he assures me, and I nod.
The girls and I get into the elevator, and since I was first stepping on, I press the button for the birdcage. Ashtyn begins to laugh. “Seriously?” Her eyes drop to my ring. “How did you get Kash to propose to you so soon?”
“Well, for starters, I didn’t fuck his best friends,” I remark.
She huffs, and Charlotte’s eyes go wide while she bites her lip to try and hide her smile. The moment the door slides open, Ashtyn stomps off and rushes to her room, slamming the door shut behind her.
I know I’m baiting her. If I’d be nice, it would be easier, but I’ve never been fake. I’m not going to pretend I don’t know what she did to Saint and his brothers. Or that she left them high and dry for four years.
I’ve fallen in love with Kashton, against my better judgment. Still, I couldn’t imagine shooting him and leaving him for dead and then just forgetting he ever existed. I would give my life for him. That is what a Lady does. When you marry a Lord, you no longer get to think about yourself. You’re part of a team. And I know that Kashton would do anything for me, therefore I will give him nothing less of me.
Stopping at Kashton’s door, Charlotte gets my attention. “Haidyn would never hurt you.”
I turn to face her. Giving her a soft smile, I speak. “I know.” Everyone in the office saw me take a step back from Haidyn. It wasn’t because I’m afraid of him, though. I’m just used to being on my own. Kashton is all-consuming, and I know Haidyn wants to make up for lost time. The two of them will be suffocating.
“He’s confused.” She sighs heavily. “Worried…he wants to be a big brother and protect you, but he thinks you hate him.” Her eyes drop to the floor, lowering her voice. “Because of what your guys’ father did to you—selling you to Dollhouse.”
I know he knows more than that, and I wonder if he’s told his wife. I glance away and run a hand through my hair nervously. “It wasn’t his fault.” You don’t get to pick your parents. And in our world, they’re pretty much all pieces of shit. It’s rare to find someone who actually cares about you. And if you do, you’re one of the lucky ones.
“Haidyn protects who he loves, and he hates that he wasn’t able to do that for you.” She adds, “I know you have Kashton, but I just want you to know that Haidyn would do anything for you if you’d let him into your life.” With that, she turns and enters their room.
I open Kashton’s door and fall onto the bed, staring up at his ceiling. I wish we were still in New York, drinking champagne and eating chocolate-covered strawberries on a yacht while floating out on the ocean. But nothing about my life has ever been a honeymoon. Life must go on at some point. And we’ve returned to it.
The door opens, and I shoot up to see my husband enter. “How did it go?” I ask right away.
He removes his cell and the keys to his car from his pockets, tossing them onto the nightstand. “Haidyn is pissed, and Saint didn’t say a word.”
“What is Haidyn mad about exactly?” I nibble on my lip.
“That I married you.”
Right. Because I’m not good enough for his best friend.I drop my head, and Kash lifts it by placing his finger under my chin and forcing me to tilt my head back. “He’s pissed that he wasn’t there,” he corrects himself.
Pulling away, I nod to myself.
“I’m going to take a shower. Join me?”
