Page 107 of Glutton for Punishment

This must be the history.

“Atticus!” Paris sings, her face lighting up. “I didn’t know you were visiting. What a sweet surprise! I have missed you.”

I glance at Atticus, who has somehow turned even redder.

“Paris,” he says, still staring at the table. “Didn’t know you were here...”

My eyes flick between them all. Maddox looks one second away from strangling someone.

I wait for literally anyone to explain.

“Well,” Paris says, removing her sunglasses and tossing them onto the table, “I came to check on my brother and his little alliance quest to avenge his bonded.”

She pours herself a drink like she owns the place. Which, given the family… I guess she sort of does.

Her fitted dress hugs every curve; heels so tall I am honestly impressed she can walk in them.

My bond flares hot in my chest. I could totally take her.

“Interesting,” Maddox says, finally speaking. “Considering you haven’t chosen a side.”

Paris pouts. “Do I need to choose a side to check on my little brother?”

She circles the table. My shoulders stiffen when she trails her hand across Atticus’s shoulders as he flinches away.

I suddenly want to rip her arm off.

Which is deeply inconvenient, considering I recently vowed not to remove any more limbs.

She sips her drink, gaze sliding from Atticus to Maddox to me. “Well,” she says with a wicked smile, “this is cozy.”

“Why are you here?” I ask her, arms crossed.

“Why don’t you grab a drink, Arwen?” she purrs. “We can swap lover stories about little Atti here.”

My entire body goes rigid.

Atti?

They have nicknames?

“Shut up, Paris,” Atticus snaps. “That was ages ago, and you know it.”

“Oh, relax,” she says. “Just thought I could give Arwen a little background since I’m assuming neither of you have filled her in?”

My head whips toward him.

“There is nothing to tell. You know nothing about me,” Atticus grits out.

“Testy, testy,” Paris croons. “We always brought out white hot rage in each other, didn’t we?”

She leans down. “Especially in private.”

Nope.

Absolutely not.

This woman is determined to test my restraint over my power, and I refuse to let my chaos loose over a little petty jealousy. I stand up so fast that my chair almost topples backward.