Split(56)

She gasps, and I keep my eyes to the dirt to avoid having to see the pathetic look women get when they’re rejected. Weakness is revolting.

“Hey, I’m sorry.” She reaches out and I smack her hand from the air before she can touch me. Her arms wrap around her belly.

I slowly move my gaze up her body. Baggy-ass pants that wouldn’t flatter even the sexiest woman, a worn shirt that showcases her heaving breasts, and then . . . ta-da! There it is.

Recognition.

I grin.

She scowls. “Gage.”

I hold out my hands and bow. “At your service, whore.”

She jolts at my verbal stab, but her glare tightens. “Why are you here?”

I chuckle and look up to the stars. “Hmm . . . I was about to ask you the same thing, but seeing the condition I found you two in, I’d say I know exactly why you’re here, Shyyy Ann.”

She shakes her head, long strands of her midnight hair swaying with the movement. “I’m here with Lucas . . .”

“Not anymore.”

“You weren’t invited.” The last word is spit like venom, but I don’t miss the quiver of fear in her voice.

How f*cking dare she.

“I’m not invited? I’m not invited!” I step into her face, rage making my muscles tense and shake. “You’re the whore who isn’t f*cking invited!”

I gotta give it to her. Despite the hurt that works behind her eyes, she doesn’t back down, which seems to harden my dick even more. Bitch.

“You didn’t listen when I told you to leave him alone.”

She squares her shoulders. “I don’t want to leave him alone.”

“What do you think is going to happen here? What delusional little girl fantasy do you have swirling in that tiny brain of yours, huh? You think he’ll fall in love with you? That the two of you’ll ride off into the sunset and live happily ever after?”

“What . . . no!”

“That’s what you want, isn’t it? You want Luke because he’s easy to control. You love the power you have over him, don’t you? Using that * to control the poor bastard.”

She cringes.

I lurch at her and as much as I’d love to wrap my hands around her pretty little neck, I ball my fists at my side. “Stay away from him.”

“I don’t want to.” Her voice is quiet, timid. She’s losing her fight. Finally.

“I don’t give a damn what you want. Do you have any idea how many women have tried to f*ck Luke? How many times I’ve had to keep him from being raped?”

Her lip trembles and she shakes her head. “You’re lying.”

A low chuckle reverberates in my chest. “You don’t know shit. And thanks to me, neither does he.”

“Tell me.”

“Why? So you can pity him more than you already do?”

“I don’t pity him.” Her full lips turn down as she most likely realizes the lie in her words.

“The f*ck you don’t. Everyone does. I’m only going to say this one more time.” I breathe deep, trying to get a hold on my rage. “Leave him the f*ck alone!”

She advances, pushes up on her toes, and gets directly into my face. “If you want me gone so badly, why didn’t you let Dustin have me that night at the bar?”

Her words knock me in the chest. I was hoping she’d forget that night. All of it.

“Go home, Shyann.” My growled demand doesn’t move her an inch.

Stubborn bitch.

“Tell me. If you hate me so much, why did you protect me from Dustin?”

I pull off Luke’s stupid hat, run a frustrated hand through my hair, and fist it until it burns. “If I tell you, you’ll leave?”

“Not a chance.”

My gaze darts to hers. “Do you have a death wish or something?”

“I’m not afraid to die if that’s what you’re asking.” Her body shivers, betraying her words. “I’m not afraid of you.”

Aah, false confidence is such an easy tell.

“You’re in the middle of a dark forest. No one home to make sure you get there safely. I could bury you and be rested by morning if I wanted.”

She takes a retreating step. “You wouldn’t.”

My lips curl back over my teeth. “You know nothing about what I would and wouldn’t do.”

“That’s where you’re wrong.” She straightens her shoulders in a pathetic attempt at confidence. “You protect Lucas. You’d never hurt me because you know it would hurt him.”

I blink, considering her words. “A little pain now to save him from a lot of pain in the future would be worth it.”

“Yeah? Is that why you starved him?”

Touché. The bitch is smart.

“I knew it. You let him starve as punishment. Just like his mother did.”

I grip her arm and shove her back. “You f*cking bitch! Don’t you dare compare me to that useless piece of trash.” I shove her again, making her stumble. “You think because Luke shared one little story with you, you know us?” I shove her again and she loses her footing and falls. I tower over her, glaring down at the pretty little bug that I could so easily squash under my foot. Be rid of her forever. “Stay the f*ck away from him. Do you hear me?”