All I can think of is heading west. Away from it all. Away from him.
I laugh, but it’s a bitter, empty sound. It’s the laugh of someone who thought they could outrun their own heart. All this fearlessness, this idea that I could handle it all on my own… It’s led me right here, back to more heartache.
thirty-five
KNOX
“What the hell is wrong with you?” I spit the words like they’re poison.
The anger inside me isn’t just a feeling. It’s a goddamn wildfire, starting slow, crawling, waiting. But the moment it ignites, it’s consuming, burning everything in its path. I’ve never hated anyone, not even when Hallie pulled me into her mess of lies and dragged me under. But Juliette? That’s the line. She should’ve never been brought into this.
Before I can say anything else, Callan moves in like a shadow, planting himself between us. “Knox. Let’s take this to your office, aye?”
I swallow back the fire in my chest. Barely. The taste of it lingers, burning the back of my throat. I give a clipped nod and turn toward the office.
I should be chasing after Juliette and making sure she’s all right. Finn’s got her though, and she doesn’t need me right now. She made that very fucking clear. I can’t blame her for it.
I slam my office door shut behind us, the sound reverberating through the room. Callan stays just inside the doorway,arms crossed, every inch of him radiatingdon’t be a dumb bastard.His version of damage control.
My eyes snap to Hallie, and there it is. That goddamn smirk. The one that’s always been her sharpest weapon. My hands curl into fists at my sides, muscles coiled tight and straining against the need todosomething.
She wants a reaction, so I don’t. Like hell am I giving her that satisfaction.
“Why are you here?”
Hallie tilts her head. “Oh, I just thought I’d stop by the big party is all. There’s a paper you forgot to sign the other day, and I thought I’d help you out by bringing it by.”
I narrow my eyes, disgust rising in my gut. “Bullshit. If there was anything I forgot, Finn would’ve handled it.”
She laughs, sweet but hollow. She thinks she’s untouchable. “Come on. Don’t act like you’re too busy to deal with a little paperwork.”
My jaw tightens. I’m not giving into this.
Her grin widens, and her voice drips with mockery. “Oh, fine. I wanted to congratulate you, Knox. See how you’re coping with ourheartbreaking,hardly finalized divorce and check out the American who’s got you all twisted up. She’s quite pretty, isn’t she? In that…simple sort of way.”
My blood runs cold before surging hot again. There it is. The real reason she showed up.
“Oh, struck a nerve, have I?” Her eyes gleam with satisfaction. “I simply wanted to meet the woman who’s captured your attention.”
Callan steps in then, not a trace of his usual dry humor anywhere. Just cool, unflinching detachment. “That’s enough, Hallie.”
She blinks, just for a second, like she wasn’t expectinghimto be the one to shut her down.
Callan doesn’t so much as flinch. “You’ve had your moment. Said your piece. Now get the hell out.”
She opens her mouth, probably to toss out some parting shot, but Callan cuts her off.
“And just so we’re clear?” His brows lift, voice still maddeningly calm. “You show up here again, start lurking around, or pull any of this petty, desperate bullshit, we won’t be having another little chat. We’ll be filing harassment charges.”
The briefest flash of surprise crosses her face before she buries it behind that smug grin again. She knows Callan’s not bluffing, but she recovers fast. She’s danced this fucking waltz a thousand times before and never once missed a step.
She turns on her heel, but not without twisting the knife one last time. She glances back over her shoulder, eyes glinting with a satisfaction that makes my stomach turn.
“Good luck withJuliette.”
And then she’s gone, the sound of her heels clicking down the hall and echoing long after her shadow disappears.
Without thinking, I slam my fist down on the desk. The crack of bone against wood ricochets through the room. Papers jump. A pen rolls to the edge. My phone clatters to the floor.
