Page 23 of Paths

“You are,” Weston insists. “Whatever you think you’re doing, it’s a phase. You’ll get over it when I get you home where you belong.”

“You were being nice, baby.” Surprised by his endearment, I look up, but Grady is staring at Weston. “He’s a bigger pain in the ass than you let on.”

I know Weston well, and he’s getting close to losing it. That’s never a fun experience. “I’m not going to tell you again, asshole. Get your hands off my fiancée.”

“She said she’s not yours,” Grady counters.

“She is,” Weston growls.

Grady, who’s remained cool, calm, and collected, shrugs, as if he couldn’t give a shit. “Well, that’s gotta be weird for you then, seein’ as I’m sleeping with your fiancée.”

Oh, shit. That was not a part of my plan.

Weston’s whole body goes rigid, and just when I think this could get really bad, another voice joins our fray. “Everything okay, Maya?”

I have to crane my neck to see him since Grady has me tucked tight to his side, but it’s Crew. He might’ve been talking to me, but he’s staring straight at Weston.

I open my mouth to speak, but Grady gives me a squeeze and answers, “We’re good. Although, it’s getting late and we’d like to get to bed, but this guy won’t leave.”

Crew stands with his arms loose at his sides, relaxed, yet weirdly focused. “Who’s this?”

“Weston, the one Maya told us about.”

“You’ve gotta be fucking kidding me?” Weston explodes. “You cannot be with this guy. You’ve been mine for twelve years. I’m warning you, Maya. Do not do this.”

“Enough,” Crew interjects. “She doesn’t want you here, that means you’re trespassing and since I’m with the woman who owns this land, that means you answer to me. If you don’t leave on your own, I’ll make you—and trust me, you do not want that to happen.”

“Maya.” I look to Weston and his anger has brimmed. Weston MacLachlan isn’t used to taking orders, except maybe from his father. Even then, it’s a crapshoot if he obeys. “I’ll give you twenty-four hours to come to your senses. If you don’t, you’ll regret it.” He starts for his car, but after taking a few steps, turns back to me in the darkness and looks straight into my eyes with his evil ones, proving he’s the monster I remember. “Still can’t believe you’d leave and not keep in contact with Joseph. I’ve heard he’s home and not doing well. Maybe I’ll check on him myself.”

A panic I haven’t experienced until now erupts inside me, my stomach dropping. I twist out of Grady’s hold and hiss, “You wouldn’t dare.”

Weston cocks his head, his anger turning into something he loves—the upper hand. “Dare? I don’t know about that—Joseph is practically family. Or he would’ve been, but you changed that.” He looks to Grady then back to me, narrowing his eyes, his face hardening when he sneers, “You’d better get to bed, Maya.”

My heart catches for me, but more so for Joseph, because I know what Weston’s capable of. Watching him get in his car and drive off into the darkness, I realize my life just changed. The choice I made months ago, damning the consequences no matter what, just came to fruition.

Here come the consequences.

Chapter 7 – Lethal Recipe

Grady –

I follow her in and shut the door behind us. She doesn’t say a word or look back at me, but this house is so small I can see from here that she goes to her closet. Pulling a sweater over her head, she settles on the edge of her bed and drops her face to her hands, appearing to try and get hold of herself.

I have no idea what just happened, but I do know it’s opened a can of worms. I had a feeling she was holding shit back, but I had no idea it could result in what just went down. If anything, I have a million more questions about Maya Augustine than before, and they have nothing to do with food.

What I do know from having Maya in my arms and my mouth on hers, is I’ll do everything I can to figure her shit out fast. Not only do I need to know everything about her now, but I want more of her, and soon. When I walked up and saw her barely dressed—visibly cold through her thin tank—I had no idea who that shithead was, but I had the burning desire to kick his ass off her doorstep to get him away from her.

Yeah, something might’ve clicked the first time she laid her hands on me, but tonight? Tonight, Maya Augustine ruined me.

I decide to give her a second and pull out my phone. No surprise—I already have a text from Crew.

Crew – He’s gone, watched him leave on the cameras. What the fuck was that?

Me – I saw someone approach and could tell she was upset. I came right away. You ever pull her background?

Crew – No. Addison took her on right when you and I left. She seemed boring, no need.

Me – I want it by tomorrow along with that asshole’s—Weston MacLach-something. I’m sure he’ll be in her report. Get the name there.

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