Hooked: A Dark, Contemporary Romance (Never After #1)(77)

Tina smiles, walking into the room until she’s only a few steps away. “Sorry.”

“Where’s Dad?” I ask, glancing around. “Is he picking up Jon?”

Her eyes are slightly unfocused, her pupils round and dilated as she grins.

“Tina.” I wave my hand in front of her face.

She jerks, snapping out of her daze. “What?”

“Is my father here?” A warning tingle races up my spine as I take her in, something feeling off about this whole encounter. Suddenly, I wish I would have waited for James to get home, so he could have at least attempted to talk me out of coming at all.

This just doesn’t feel right.

“Mmmmm, nope.” She laughs. “He told me to wait for you, though.”

I tilt my head, my heartbeat whooshing through my ears, my eyes taking in my surroundings. “Okay.”

She steps toward me, stumbling before she regains her footing.

“Are you okay?” Is she drunk?

“I’m fine. Your father has a new business partner. Brand new, actually, and I was the tester to make sure the product was on point.” She taps her nose.

My eyes widen, stomach dropping. “You’re high?”

“Just a little bit of pixie.” She grins. “Pete doesn’t like to touch the stuff, but someone has to make sure he’s not being gypped.” Her eyes narrow. “And there’s no one your father trusts more than me.”

She throws her barb, and it hits the mark, but it doesn’t rip me open the way it once would have. It merely stings; a phantom ache for what could have been.

Not that I would ever agree to do drugs to benefit his business.

My eyes narrow. “You’re disgusting. How can you be okay with what he does?”

She huffs out a laugh. “That’s rich. Tell me, do you ask yourself the same thing as you let Hook split you with his cock?”

Heat rushes to my cheeks, and I grit my teeth. “That’s none of your business.”

She stares at me, the grin dropping off her face. “Ugh, this really sucks. I was told not to hurt you.”

My hair stands on end, alarm racing through me at her words, and I back away slowly, not wanting to make any sudden moves. “Who told you that?”

“Everybody.” She glares, stepping toward me. “Wendy this, and Wendy that. ‘Don’t hurt her, Tina.’ ‘We need her, Tina.’ ‘She’s my daughter, Tina.’”

My back hits the wall, the table next to me shaking from the thump, anxiety swarming my insides as she continues to move closer, her eyes small slits. “Do you know how exhausting it is always coming in second place?”

I shake my head, putting my hands in front of me, my eyes glancing to my phone across the room. “I never asked to be put first.”

“Liar!” she screams. Her hand shoots out and slaps me across the face, my head swinging to the side, cheek stinging from the burn. I grit my teeth, desperately trying to keep my composure. Blinking slowly, I inhale a breath, and when I reopen my eyes, I realize how big of a mistake it was to close them at all.

Because Tina is right in front of me, and a blue glass vase is in her hand, high in the air. My arms reach up to try and stop her, but she’s fast, and it crashes into my head. I fall to the ground, pain searing through my skull as she brings it down again, and everything goes black.





44





James





My office is destroyed.

I stare at Curly, Starkey, and the twins as they watch me pace back and forth. They’re smart enough to know there’s nothing they can say that will calm the rage wreaking havoc on my insides. I called Curly in specifically because I know him and Moira are close.

Moira.

Unbelievable.

Turning, I point at Curly, my finger shaking. “Did you know?”

His nostrils flare, his fingers popping as he puts his fist in his other hand. “Hell no, Hook. I would never let that bitch get away with this.”

Nodding, I rest my palms on the edge of the desk, my grip so tight my knuckles leach of color. “Bring her to me.”

“I don’t know if—”

My arm sweeps across the desk, everything crashing to the floor, wires ripping from their sockets and pens rolling across the wood. “Bring her to me. Now.”

Curly nods, pulling out his phone and walking away. But he needn’t go anywhere, because as he opens the door, Moira stands on the other side. “Hi, boys.”

My head snaps up, untapped fury ripping through my muscles and bleeding from my bones. “Moira,” I purr. “How lovely of you to make an appearance.” I walk around the desk, my fingers gripping the handle of my knife so tight it bruises.

She makes her way inside, meeting me halfway, and smirks. I brush her hair off the side of her neck, the back of my hand resting against her cheek. “Tell me, sweetheart, did you think you would get away with it? Or do you simply wish for death?”

She looks me straight in the eye and smiles. “I still think I’m getting away with it. James.”

The back of my hand connects with her cheek in a sharp crack, her body flinging onto the floor. My nostrils flare as I step over to her, the heel of my shoe digging into her back. I lean into my body weight, reveling in the way she whimpers beneath me. My eyes snag on that disgusting crocodile tattoo gracing the back of her neck as a memory flashes in my mind.