Page 154 of Endgame

“Mercedes?”

“Yes!” I nodded. “Christ, yes. I need to find her.”

There was a long pause before Dad cleared his throat and asked, “Why would you need to find her, Rourke?”

I rolled my eyes and bit back the urge to roar. “Because I have to!” I snapped, mentally adding the wordassholeat the end. “Can you call her? She’s not picking up for me. I need to know she’s okay.”

“Why wouldn’t she be okay?” Concern filled my father’s voice. “What’s going on, Rourke?”

“She was with me,” I bit out. “When the fight broke out.” Exhaling a shaky sigh, I rubbed my jaw with my hand and added, “I haven’t seen her since.”

“Oh.” Dad’s tone was light then. “She’s probably just gone home with her date, Rourke.”

“I’mher date, asshole!” I roared, losing the final grasp I had on my temper. “Fuck!”

“What the hell are you talking about?” Dad growled.

I bit down on my fist instead of throwing my phone. “What the hell do you think I’m talking about?”

“Are you sleeping with your stepsister, Rourke?”

I’m doing more than just sleeping with my stepsister, I was about to say, but paused when the door handle of the room jangled. Seconds later, the door flew open and Six strolled in wearing another guy’s jacket. No, not just another guy, I realized when Mason sauntered into my room.

Oh, hell to the fucking no!

Mercedes

“DAD, I HAVE TO GO,” Rourke growled into his phone before pressing a button on the screen and tossing it down on the bed. “What the fuck is this?” he demanded, stalking towards me. When he reached me, Rourke quickly snatched the jacket I had forgotten was draped over my shoulders and threw it at Mason, who was standing beside me with a shit eating grin on his face. “She doesn’t need your jacket, asshole!”

“Relax, buddy, I didn’t lay a finger on her,” Mason laughed before slipping his jacket back on. “I found her on the beach, all alone and crying her eyes out. I’m just returning what’s yours.”

“Consider her returned,” Rourke snarled. “Now go.”

“Rourke!” I hissed, mortified, but he didn’t look at me. His focus was entirely on Mason who was grinning like the cat that got the cream.

“Told you I’m never wrong,” Mason said with a wink directed at me before turning and heading towards the door.

The moment the door closed, Rourke was on me. “Are you okay?” he demanded, tone thick with concern, as he cupped my face between his hands – his usual move when he was anxious. “Jesus fucking Christ, I’ve been going out of my mind worrying about you.”

“Have you?” I replied, not meaning to sound so…catty. But dammit, I felt catty. I felt pretty damn pissed actually.

Rourke raised his brow in surprise and I quickly backed out of his embrace before stepping around him and walking over to the huge king sized bed in the center of the room. “Last I saw, you had your hands full with Britt.” The hidden accusation in my tone was obvious to both of us.

“What exactly are you trying to say, Six?” Rourke tossed back, tone hard, jaw clenched. “Because if you’re accusing me of something, then come right out and say it.”

“Fine!” Sinking down on the bed, I folded my arms across my chest and met his gaze head on. “She was all over you.” My voice sounded weak and shaky and it made me mad. I wanted to sound strong. I need to, dammit. “I asked you not to fight and you did it anyway. And then you let hertouchyou.”

“Touch me?” Rourke hissed, clearly outraged. “I didn’t let anyone touch me, Six.”

“She was all over you, Rourke.” Now I was shouting, my voice rising to compensate for the tears springing in my eyes. “She went with you when you were escorted out.” Stupid tears dripped down my cheeks. “You didn’t look back at me once! You just left withher.”

My words seemed to cause Rourke to lose whatever shred of self-control he’d been clinging to and he blew up like a firecracker on the fourth of July.

“What the actual fuck!” he roared, furious, as he began to pace the room. “Are you seriously mad at me for hitting that piece of shit?” Swinging around, Rourke glared at me. “He was disrespectingyou, Six! Talking shit aboutyou! Making sexual innuendos aboutmygirlfriend!” He shook his head, at a loss. “What the fuck did you think I would do? Shake his hand?”

“I didn’t think you’d leave withher!” I screamed, losing my cool. “But you did, so I guess I’m wrong again.”

“I didn’t fuckingleavewith her,” he roared louder than I’d ever heard him. “I was removed from the goddamn room, Six. By hotel security. Brittfollowedme. I didn’t ask her to come. I wanted you!”

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