Kai slaps the keys in my hand. “Go wait for me.”
“I don’t take orders from you.” He slaps my butt, and I yelp, rubbing my sore ass as I glare at him. “I still don’t take orders from you.” I fold my arms across my body, daring him to slap me again.
He does.
Even harder this time.
I swing my fist, aiming for his face, but he takes hold of my wrist, stalling me. “You don’t want to push me, baby. Do what you’re told, or I’ll redden your ass and make it so you can’t sit down for a week.”
“I hate you.”
“Right now, the feeling is mutual.Getin the car.”
I stomp out of the room, mumbling obscenities under my breath the entire time. I’m halfway across the path between the house and the garage when I spy Jackson up ahead. He’s in his running gear, and he’s jogging straight toward me. “Sup, beautiful?” he pants, yanking the buds from his ears when he reaches me.
“You went running without me?”
He swipes his arm along his sweat-slickened brow. “Didn’t think you’d be up for it in your condition.”
I snort. “I’m pregnant, not incapacitated. And keeping fit is important.”
“Cool.” He shoves damp strands of hair back off his brow. “I go running every morning, and you’re welcome to join me. There are tons of good routes to run on the grounds.”
“It’s a date.”
“What is?” An angry voice barks at my back.
“Your misguided possessiveness is pathetic.” My lips curl into a sneer. “And you’ll give yourself an ulcer if you keep this up.”
“The only thing giving me an ulcer is you,” he retorts, grabbing my elbow and dragging me away from Jackson.
“You’re hurting her,” Jackson says, pinning angry eyes on his buddy as he takes a step forward.
“No, I’m not. And even if I was, it’s none of your business. I won’t tell you again, Lauder. Butt the fuck out.”
“Someone needs to remind you to remove your head from your ass,” Jackson says. “Before you fuck everything up.”
“Pot, kettle, black, dude.” Kai keeps a tight hold on me as he manhandles me toward the garage.
“Why are you pissed at him?” I ask, glancing over my shoulder. Jackson hasn’t moved from his spot, and he’s watching us as he sips from a bottle of water with steam practically billowing from his ears. Kai’s last retort got to him.
Kai ignores me at first, hauling me to a large Land Rover with blacked-out windows. He opens the passenger door, grips my hips, and sets me down in the seat, before strapping me in as if I’m a little kid and incapable of buckling a seatbelt.
He slides in behind the wheel, slamming his door shut with more force than necessary. His knuckles blanch white as he grips the wheel tightly, making no move to start the car. “Why aren’tyouis a more interesting question.”
“Jackson hasn’t betrayed me.”
“Hasn’t he?” He swivels in his seat, facing me. “Hunt and Lauder were part of the plan too. They both kept stuff from you, but I’m the only one you’re mad at.”
“They weren’t concealing their true identities!! And they weren’t sleeping in my bed at night and holding me in their arms like it meant something.”
“Of course, it meant something.” He starts the engine. “And you fucking know it.”
I won’t dignify that with a response, so I stay quiet, pouting and sulking and plotting ways to hurt him.
Sawyer steps in front of the car, just as Kai is about to drive forward. He comes around to my window, gesturing at me to lower it. Kai presses the button from his side, lowering my window all the way. “What?” I snap.
“Wow. Someone’s in a good mood.”
