Page 75 of Don't Lie to Me

I knew I was playing with fire. Jack could kill Marcus and then destroy him in a single second. I also knew this is what it would take to show him exactly what he was losing.

“Because if you can’t stand it, if the thought of another man’s hands on me drives you as insane as I think it does, then you need to get your head out of your ass before you lose me completely. I can forgive you for how shitty you treated me, and how you fired me. Because I know.”

I paused and watched him take a deep breath, clearly debating whether to grab me and haul me upstairs, or scream at me, or…something. The vein by his temple popped out as if he was literally about to blow his fucking lid.

“I know you love me, and I know that scares the shit out of you. But you need to have more faith in me. I can be strong and I can deal with a lot of bullshit to fight for what I want. I want you, but I don’t want you if you’re not willing to fight for me or if you’re going to give up, and toss me aside the first time trouble comes our way when you promised – you promised to protect us. I won’t stand for that. I just wanted to remind you what you’re missing.”

“Emma,” he warned frantically, taking a few steps towards me, but I backed up, knowing if he got his hands on me again I would be lost in him completely.

“Marcus will fight for me. He will stand by me…”

“Fuck Marcus!” He yelled, panting.

It was evil. I knew it. It was like poking an angry lion with a stick and I was just asking to get my head bitten off, but it had to be done. I just hoped it didn’t back fire completely.

I winked and picked up my purse. “That’s always an option.”

I turned and left, rushing down the stairway without bothering to wait for the elevator knowing he could chase after me with that threat lingering between us.

“You got the shit beat out of me,” Marcus hissed at me when he came to pick up Logan for another sleepover.

I cringed and shrunk away from him, feeling bad for a moment before I remembered he was lying to me, too.

“You deserved it,” I calmly stated and began picking up the useless college applications strewn all over my coffee table. I had made my choice on schools and the rest were pointless.

“I can’t believe you put me in the middle of this shit.”

For a moment, I felt bad again. Bad enough to wrinkle my nose at Marcus’s swollen black eye. I went and grabbed a bag of peas from the freezer and tossed it towards him.

“Thanks,” he muttered and sat down on the couch. “What did you tell him?”

I blushed as I remembered exactly how that conversation went with Jack.

“Never mind, I don’t think I want to know.”

I chuckled a little bit and shut my mouth. “I didn’t think he’d beat you up. I just told him you wanted me and I was considering it.”

I dropped my eyes, feeling slightly ashamed of myself for using Marcus like this.

“I’m sorry,” I whispered finally. He stared at me like I had two heads. “That wasn’t fair to you. Or I at least should have warned you, but I just can’t be with you Marcus. Too much has changed and I don’t feel the same way about you anymore. I’d love to be a family with you, but I don’t love you anymore. I love him.”

I hadn’t heard from Jack in over twenty-four hours since I high-tailed it out his apartment the night before, but based on the black eye Marcus was sporting, I had clearly impacted him.

Slowly, Marcus nodded reluctantly and sighed. “I know. I know you do. And I think I just wanted what we used to have without realizing we’re now totally different people.”

“I think we can be friends, though.” I sat down next to him, slightly nervous he might smack me for being such a shit to Jack and getting him beat up. “That will be the best for Logan.”

He nodded and tossed his frozen bag of peas in my kitchen sink. “I get it,” he said and leaned down and gently pressed his lips against my cheek. “I love you, though.”

I smiled and winked. “I love you, too. I always will. And I’m really glad you’re back in Logan’s life. He’s been a completely different kid since his dad showed up.”

I pursed my lips and bit back my tears. “You’re a great dad, Marcus.”

I saw his own eyes begin to water up but he did some sort of man sniff to clear them away. “Thanks, Emma.”

“Can you tell me what’s going on yet?” I had a sinking feeling that I wasn’t going to hear from Jack until whatever bullshit he was dealing with was done. Regardless, I was finally better than I had been in weeks. I should have been, after the mind-blowing orgasms he gave me yesterday.

But I threw my cards down and laid my hand out for Jack to see. He knew I wanted him and the ball was in his court, so to speak. I was determined to wait for him; to trust that he loved me and was doing something to protect me, and I would stand by his side figuratively, since I couldn’t be there literally.

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