He grins. “Not quite. But it does mean I have something in mind for Monday morning at the studio.”
“Awesome. Tell me all about it. I want nothing more than to take the fucker down.”
Chapter Thirty-Six
Naomi
* * *
Adrenaline courses through my blood, speeding up my heart to a palpable rhythm. It’s like Thumper’s fucking foot going inside my chest. I glance over to Casper, who has been sitting with a guitar in his lap, plucking at strings without melody. He’s just as bottled up and off-kilter as I am.
“Tell me again why I can’t punch him?”
Behind me, Gus chuckles. He’s back to himself again. It took a full day of resting and rehydrating, but I’ve come to realize that not a lot holds Gus Diamond back or down. “I never said you couldn’t, beautiful, but if anyone is taking shots this morning, it’s gonna to be me.”
“What are you, NSYNC?”
“Huh?”
I huff a breath. “Nothing. Just old boy band fantasies.”
“What does that have to do with taking shots? And no, I don’t mean alcohol,” Gus grouses with an exaggerated shudder to his voice. “I think my days of that are done.”
“Right,” Henry deadpans through a raspy voice. He still has his cold. “I’ll remind you of that in a couple of weeks when you’re sitting by Jas’ pool, drinking a margarita.”
“Thanks, brother. That will be very helpful. And I’ll remind you that you sound like Kermit the Frog with a fifty-year, two-pack a day smoking habit.”
Keith and Jasper start cracking up, and then Casper and I join in because it’s impossible not to with that.
“Shut up, assholes. You’re throwing off my burn.” I give them all glares because despite the banter, I’m still tense as hell.
I know how this is going to go. Despite the strength in numbers. I know Florian Heart. I’ve read his texts that he’s sent me over the last couple of days. I’ve listened to his voice messages. And I remember the man who would stop at nothing to get what he wants.
Only this time, that’s not an option for him.
He will not win this round.
Even if delivering the kill shot has never been my forte.
The door opens and I freeze in place as Florian enters the room alone. He’s smiling. Almost as if he’s got a secret until his eyes meet mine while simultaneously taking in everyone surrounding me. Then he frowns. His expression now burning with acrimony. That’s when the caged lion comes out. The same one I met that evening in the hotel two years ago.
He’s ready to fight for his cause.
He’s ready to fight dirty.
“What is this, Nai? Cas?” He quickly looks to Casper before turning back to me almost immediately. “Tell me you’re kidding me right now? Did you not see the picture? What he did to you?” Florian points in Gus’ direction and I wonder when this man became so lost.
Is it the drugs that did this to him?
Because for two years, I was nothing to him.
Sure, he said he was checking up on me, but what was he waiting for all that time if he really loved me as much as he claims? I told him I was pregnant with his child, and he thought I was a joke. I realize I’m recycling my thoughts here. I know I’m rehashing old shit that doesn’t change anything about this present situation.
But still.
Why all of this now?
I’m honestly curious.
And then it all sort of clicks into place. The longer I look at him. The more I stare into his dark eyes. He wanted to have his cake and eat it too. He wanted drugs and other women. He wanted his freedom, knowing little old Naomi was sad and alone. Figuring that’s how I would stay since I was a lost little duckling in a big pond. But the moment Gus came around. The moment there were pictures of me getting my life back, well…
He doesn’t really want me. He just doesn’t want anyone else to have me.
It’s pride and ego and some misguided possessive ownership bullshit.
And just like that, I’m not so nervous anymore.
I’m not that girl anymore.
His choices are his own. His sobriety is his own. His life is his own. And I will never be a part of it again. I’m free of Florian Heart, and I don’t think anything has ever felt better than this. I’ve known it for a while, but suddenly, it’s all hitting home. That realization is a powerful drug that replaces all my nasty adrenaline with determination.
“I know what you did,” I tell him instead of anything else. Everyone told me what to say. How to phrase it. But when faced with him, I can’t follow anyone else’s rules or script. Not anymore. Never again. “I know everything you did.”
Heat crawls up his skin, reddening his cheeks and narrowing his eyes. “Oh yeah? What is it you think you know?”
Suddenly Gus is standing beside me, his hand sliding around my waist and squeezing my hip. I wonder if it’s to stop himself from lunging at Florian and killing him with his bare hands.
“Would you like me to spell it out for you?” Gus asks, his voice deadly calm and ice cold.
Florian’s dark eyes drag along each of the silent people in the room before they land on mine. It’s as if Gus isn’t even here. “Naomi, I don’t know what lies he’s feeding you—”
“You drugged Gus. Or rather had your friend do it. You set up that picture. Then you tried to play me for the fool. Did I miss anything?”
I turn and look at Gus, who’s expression is so sharp and severe you can feel the aggression and hate pouring off him. How he’s still standing here casually beside me is anyone’s guess.
“Nope. I think that just about sums it up.”
Florian glances over to Casper who is now standing, and in this moment, Florian realizes it’s all over for him. He knows there’s nothing he can say that will fix this.
Florian clears his throat and steps into me. I don’t budge as his eyes dance across my face. Gus stiffens, pulling me protectively back toward him, but in this second, I resist.
I need this showdown to be done once and for all.
“Everything I did is because I love you. Is because I miss you, and I want you back. Please, Naomi. Step outside and speak with me without the audience.”
I shake my head. “It’s over Florian. All of it. We’re done. We’ve been done for two years. Nothing you do or say is going to change that and drugging Gus to get me to break up with him is not only criminal, it’s so fucked up I can hardly stand to be in the same room as you let alone look at you.”
“That actually goes for me too, Flor.” Casper steps forward causing Florian’s head to fly in his direction. “I’m done too. I’ve put up with so much of your shit over the years.” He takes another step, his gaze hard and unrelenting. “The drugs. The women. The lying. I thought maybe once you got clean, that would change. It’s why I did what I did to try and help you get Naomi back. I was hoping you’d be you again if that happened. But what you did?” Casper drags a hand through his hair, visibly dismayed. “Fuck, man. You crossed the line and then some. And I can’t be with you anymore.”
Florian’s eyes burn with a barely contained rage. “Then I’m taking Claw By Night with me. You’ll be left with nothing, Cas. Nothing.” His hand slashes through the air in Casper’s direction.