Page 154 of Nash

Acting like I’m calling my twin, I pace across the deck, not sure what to do next. Then I see Nash sitting on his deck, four villas down, and I don’t know whether to scream, cry, or both.

Quietly, I descend the wooden steps. Immediately, an armed guard steps out of the shadows.

“Shit!” I hiss at him.

“Sorry, ma’am.”

“Out of my way.” I shoulder past him.

“But ma’am.” He tries to stop me.

“Balls are about to be ripped off,” I sneer. “You want in on my eunuch party?”

With one hand on a rifle, he holds up his other. “No, ma’am.”

He doesn’t stop me as I storm across the neat patches of Bermuda grass, each marking a villa’s backyard, until I stand at the edge of Nash’s deck. Stomping up his wooden stairs, he stands to greet me.

“Poison, what are you—” He slings sunshine, pausing at the sight of me.

Fuck, my eye patches.

I rip them off and throw them at him. “Don’t fucking call me that!” My heart pounds at his betrayal.

He reaches for me. “What’s wro?—”

But I jerk away, clenching my teeth. “Iknow.”

He pauses, his eyes glaring down at me while he lifts his chin, adding up the damage done. “I was going to tell you.”

“Me? I don’t give a fuck about me. I mean, I do. I won’t love a liar. But what about your daughter? What about Alena? How can you do this to her?”

“Let’s go inside and talk like adults.” He motions for me to comply.

“Why? So you can lie again?”

His nostrils flare. “So I can explain.”

“I’m sure whatever you have to say can wait until I give a shit.”

“Now, Vale!” He booms, yanking me into his grasp and throwing me over his shoulder.

I punch and fight as hard as I can. I want to hurt him as much as I hurt, but it’s useless. Nash is too strong and getting pissed.

He throws the door open before slamming it behind us, glass reverberating and threatening to break.

Tossing me on the sofa, I don’t get a chance to scream before he roars, “It’s for Alena! It keeps her safe. I’m her father, so don’t you ever question what I do to protect her!”

“Oh, yeah? Well, I didn’t mean to offend ye olde patriarch, but it’s a huge bonus because I’m her best friend who’s full of facts she deserves to know!”

“Know what?” He shouts. “That Loch loves her? That he’ll always protect her? What else does she need to know?”

“That he’s Seven!” I jump to my feet. “That somehow, I know it; you, Axel, and all of your Bratva ballsacks arranged this marriage. She thinks…” Tears bite at my eyes. “Alena thinks she met Loch at a gas station. That he fell in love with her at first sight over Coca-Cola Slurpies.”

I hate this for her. I hate that her meet-cute is a lie.

“You know how shy she is,” I grieve for her. “You know how she got teased. You know no one asked her out. The cruel boys called her ‘hips’ in high school, and I could only beat so many asses and love her so much as her best friend until she finally met Loch, and he made it okay. He made her feel beautiful and loved, and she believes he adores everything about her, but it’s a lie!”

My tears fall, and they threaten Nash’s eyes, too. For Alena, he has a deadly soft spot.

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