For how is it possible to trust and love a man who can be so cruel?
Zachary
The minute we’re outside the bar located in the fucking outskirts of the city with nothing but old buildings around, Sebastian barks, whirling around to face me, his voice furious as if it’s supposed to do something to me, “What the fuck are you doing here?”
Taking out a cigarette from the pocket of my jacket, I flick my lighter and take a greedy pull, almost groaning when the taste of nicotine touches my tongue, then puff the smoke into his face. “None of your business.”
He scowls, ripping open a few top buttons of his shirt, and points a finger at me. “It is my business.”
My brows furrow, and I ask with mocked surprise, “Is that so? Based on what grounds?”
His lips thin and his jaw tics at my words, so I decide to rub salt into the invisible wound of his that started to bleed the minute he learned the truth about Phoenix.
At least according to Lydia.
Based on reports, this fucker loved his wife as much as I did my Angelica, with the only difference that I would have stood by my wife no matter what.
“She’s not your wife anymore, Sebastian. She doesn’t want you, so you have no right to demand anything from her.” I take a longer pull. “Besides, who the fuck are you to even question what I do?”
He chuckles although it lacks any humor, his fingers lacing through his hair as he replies, “Cut this power thing, Zach. Here, you’re not my boss.”
“And I’m not acting like one. I’m acting like a man who wants a woman. And in this case, you are the man who tries to stake a claim on someone who no longer belongs to you.” I drop the butt, stepping on it. “Not to mention… aren’t you my future brother-in-law?”
“So now you care about Felicia? I thought you didn’t consider them your siblings.” Disdain coats his voice as if he can’t stand his fiancée suffering; she always calls me, inviting me to various family gatherings, and I always say no.
Based on my experience as a married man, we tend to hate anything and anyone that make our women sad.
Still though.
I don’t give a shit about it.
I shrug. “We’re not, but she’s a King. And no one cheats on the Kings.” Even though I say the words, I know they reek of bullshit.
Part of me, the one I forbade a long time ago to show its head due to the consequences it always brought to my life, doesn’t want Felicia to suffer or be anyone’s second best.
She is a bubbly girl who loves her art and Sebastian to pieces, always doting on the guy whenever I see them. She looks at the world through rose-colored glasses and lives in her make-believe perfect world.
“I have to talk to her. I need to explain,” Sebastian says, dropping the subject of his engagement, and I allow him that. Then he steps back as confusion flashes on his face. “Acting like a man who wants a woman,” he repeats my words. “You want Phoenix?”
The beast inside me roars at the possessive edge he adds to her name, as if she is his, yet he gave up on her a long time ago.
Phoenix and Emmaline will never, ever belong to Sebastian again, and if I have to be a cruel bastard to achieve that?
So fucking be it.
The screeching of a car stopping abruptly by the bar doesn’t let me put him back in his place, and a woman gets out, her heels clicking loudly on the concrete as she runs toward us, worry evident on her features.
Felicia.
I should have known she’d trail after Sebastian, especially now. The girl was obsessed before, but with his ex on the loose?
It’s a wonder Sebastian isn’t wearing a leash on his neck or has a tracking device attached to his car.
“Honey!” she exclaims, circling her arms around him and squeezing him tight. “This’s where you are. I wondered what you were doing here.” She then leans back and dashes toward me, and I don’t have time to avoid her fucking hug, her perfume enveloping me in her presence, and then she smiles at me. “I didn’t know you were with Zach.” Relief rings in her words, but I don’t comment on that or disavow her of her illusions.
Until Sebastian actually crosses the line, I’ll never tell her about what happened tonight.
If he does though and tries to put a hand on Phoenix and walks over Felicia?
All bets are off.
I will fucking destroy him to the point he’ll have to scrape his remains from the sidewalk with his reputation in tatters.
“How are you, big brother?” she asks happily and then glances between us, probably noticing the tension, but decides not to pay attention to it.
“We just had a meeting here regarding the Smith deal,” Sebastian says smoothly, wrapping his hand around her waist, and his gaze softens on her when he tugs on one of her locks. “I was headed home.”
“That’s great. Although this is a weird place for that.” She looks around but then zeroes her focus back on me. “I have a gallery show soon. Would you like to come?” She doesn’t wait for me to accept or decline the invitation; she waves her hand in a dismissive gesture. “I’ll send you an invite anyway, and I’d be happy to see you.”
“Right,” I say and hold Sebastian’s stare as I add, “The meeting’s over.”
Felicia claps her hands. “Great. I have a surprise waiting for you at home,” she tells Sebastian and drags him by the elbow to the running car. “Your evenings belong to me, Mr. Lawyer.”
“I know, baby.” He looks over his shoulder and tells me, “This deal isn’t finished.”
“Forget about it, Sebastian. Just like it was said back in the bar.”
His gaze darkens. He clearly doesn’t want to accept defeat, but he has no choice.
His conscience will have to shut up so he can enjoy his life and not think about Phoenix, who can’t stand the sight of him.
Once they drive off into the distance, I go back inside the bar and grin, anticipating Phoenix’s reaction.
I’m not like Hale.
I don’t give up at the first sign of trouble, running around in hysterics and creating scenes. Besides, we are forever connected with her.
I could never leave her now.
Once upon a time, I hated Phoenix and wanted to bring her the most twisted and darkest torture there was in the world.
Looking at her now, though, without the haze of my rage, I see a woman who my body can’t help but react to.
Either it’s her beauty that shines brightly despite her less-than-sophisticated attire or her inner strength showcasing such resolve that she is able to withstand any storm, I don’t know. But whatever it is, I want that.
I want her, and what I want, I get.
Tonight, Phoenix Hale became mine.
Mine to keep.
Chapter Ten
“Choosing the lesser evil doesn’t make the choice less evil.
It’s still evil, but choosing it brings less destruction to the world than the other one.
Funny how life can change so quickly.
A man who I used to love becomes the one I need to run away from.
And the man I hate?
Is the only one who can save me from him.
Yet both of them are evil at the same time.
Our choices define us.