Page 77 of Deadly Conflicts

“It is true,” Ally argued. “We met at a bar and had sex that very first night. I’m not proud of it, so I wouldn’t puff your chest out like that if I were you. We kept having sex for a week and then kind of started dating. A week after that we were practically living with each other.

“Through all of that, though, we didn’t know each other,” she continued. “I thought you were hot, but I didn’t love you. I didn’t even like you because you never gave me anything to like.”

“There’s no need to be rude,” Vince said, his smile faltering. “I know you’ve pledged yourself to the carny … .”

Ally lashed out with her knee, taking Vince by surprise as she slammed the hard joint into his groin.

“Oomph.” He tried to lean forward, to keep his body in the open doorway, but he was in too much pain and he fell backward instead.

“Now that was me being rude,” Ally said. “If I were you, I’d start running right now. The first call I make is going to be to Jake. The second is going to be to James. They’re both going to be in a race to see who can beat the crap out of you first.”

“Don’t do this, Ally.” Vince’s face was red and tears leaked out of the corner of his eyes as he held his groin. “Don’t do this.”

“Don’t tell me what to do,” Ally shot back. “You’re not important to me. You never were. Now get off my front porch and out of my life. I’m done listening to you. I don’t even have the energy to pretend to like you.”

“Don’t you shut that door, Ally,” Vince hissed. “You’ll regret it if you do.”

“And you’re going to regret the day you met me,” Ally said. “If you thought my brother hated you before, you haven’t seen anything yet.”

Ally slammed the door as hard as she could and put the security chain in place before engaging the system James installed a year prior. She was pretty proud of herself … and amused. That emotion only lasted for a few moments and then she started looking for her phone.

She couldn’t forget Vince’s threat. After what she did to him, she had a pretty good idea he would be looking for revenge. She had to be ready for him.