Release!: A Walker Brothers Novel (The Walker Brothers #1)(44)

She glided into the room with a conniving smile on her face that I instantly wanted to bitch slap off her face.

I’d avoided being near her when I could, and ignored her nasty jabs at me when I had to be in her company. I like Trace’s brothers, and my heart bled for Dane. They might be together, but Britney didn’t deserve Dane. Yes, he was scarred, but he didn’t deserve another thorn in his side or a pain in the ass like this woman. She was as cold as Antarctica.

“Oh, I hope you don’t mind, but I went in search of something to read, and I found that little book in your hands. It was very interesting reading. I think people would be fascinated to learn that Trace Walker is marrying a criminal, and that his father had been duped into marrying a psycho. The whole family story would be a total turnoff, I think. After all, he’s marrying his stepsister.” Britney’s expression turned into an evil smile.


Bitch!

She deliberately snooped and found my mother’s journal. I hadn’t read it all, but apparently Britney had. “You stole my personal things?” I asked angrily.

I glared at her heavily made-up face, and the long blonde tresses that always looked perfect. Even when we were casually at home, she was dressed like she was going to a party. Today she was dressed in heels and a green mini dress that bared most of her thighs, even though it was probably below freezing outside.

Britney shrugged. “I was looking for reading material. I came across the information by coincidence. You have to admit that it won’t be a pretty story. Trace engaged to his criminal stepsister, and his dad fooled into marrying a woman who was certifiable. Trace would have been so much better off with me,” Britney mused.

“He’d never be better off with a bitch like you,” I growled.

Britney let out a fake gasp. “The kitten’s claws are beginning to show. I guess you get rather violent after being in prison. Even you have to admit that it’s a little sick to be engaged to your stepsister.”

“We. Aren’t. Related.” I wasn’t about to explain my relationship with Trace. It was none of her business.

“Let’s just get down to business, shall we?” All traces of innocence were gone from Britney’s voice, and she was shedding her superficial snake skin. “Trace belongs with me. I can’t screw that freak of a brother of his anymore. I can’t even let him touch me. He’s hideous. I can’t even do it for his money. He makes my skin crawl.”

“You make my skin crawl,” I rasped, so angry that I could barely contain myself.

“You’re just jealous,” Britney rationalized. “I’m beautiful and you know it.”

You’re ugly on the inside where it counts.

I didn’t answer. I simply glared at her.

“Leave Trace to me, and I’ll never mention a single thing I read in the journal. Stay with him any longer and I’ll break the news tomorrow on Christmas day. Two choices. Which one will it be?” Britney held up two fingers mockingly.

I was seething with an anger I’d never felt before, even when my mother had betrayed me. “He won’t go back to you.”

I knew Trace had seen behind Britney’s weak fa?ade.

“He will,” she said adamantly.

“You’re going to blackmail him, too? With what?”

“I can release Dane easily, or I can break his heart. Honestly, I don’t care which way it goes. I can tell him he’s a freak and I can’t ever let him lay a hand on me again.”

“Skank!” I spat out at her, wishing I had the ammunition to tell her to go f*ck herself. Unfortunately, I didn’t know what to do.

Every detail of our lives would be dissected, and I couldn’t watch Trace go through that. The thing I didn’t want was to see his father dragged through the mud after his death. It would kill all of the Walker sons. We’d known this was going to end. It was just going to have to be wrapped up sooner than we’d planned.

Britney eyes narrowed. “Decide,” she demanded.

“I’ll go. But know this…you’ll never get Trace back. He already knows you’re a whore, and he isn’t going to be with you again. Ever.”

“He loves his brothers. I was with him long enough to know his weaknesses.”

Just the fact that he she’d use his love for his brothers against Trace made me nauseous. “Get. Out.”

I didn’t want her in Trace’s bedroom ever again.

“I’ll expect you gone by morning. And leave the ring.” Britney looked at the vintage engagement ring. “He’ll be giving that to me. I always wanted a Christmas engagement.”

Over my dead body!

I wasn’t going to keep anything that belonged to Trace, but she sure as hell would never wear it.



My fury finally reached the surface so it wouldn’t be contained, and I walked over to Britney, lifted my hand, and bitch slapped her hard enough that her head turned to the side as I heard the satisfying crack of my hand connecting with her face.

“I said get out,” I repeated between gritted teeth.

“You hit me, you lowlife piece of crap,” she said furiously.

“Leave or I’ll do it again,” I threatened ominously, more than ready to break into a full-fledged cat fight. I was angry now, and I didn’t know what to do with the burning rage. Britney might be a lot taller than I was, but she was skinny and I doubted she had much fight.