Page 66 of Ruthless Redemption

“I’m well aware you push me to the brink to distract yourself from how you feel,” he mutters. “But the time will come when you can’t keep kidding yourself. And I’ll still be here. Waiting. It’s inevitable,amore mio.”

13

MATTHEW

I wait outside,dragging the cold night into my lungs, wishing that shit would dull the lust coursing through my veins.

She keeps pushing me away.

There’s always a new excuse. Another reason. A different story.

None of it fucking matters. I’m not going anywhere.

I wanther—mistakes, lies, and all.

I watch her in the living room as she approaches her daughter. She says something that has the young girl moving to her feet, then the two of them head for the hall.

Once they’re out of sight, all eyes turn to me—Decker, Hunter, Sarah, and Keira.

I have no idea where the fuck Bishop is, but the family descends on me in a pack, the four of them walking outside with varying degrees of annoyance.

“What was that all about?” Decker asks.

I raise a brow. “You’re going to have to be more specific.”

“Layla came inside, clearly flustered,” Keira says. “What’s going on with you two?”

“That’s none of your business.”

Hunter chuckles, low and menacing. “I assure you, it is.”

Bishop enters the living room, his long strides eating up the space to the door that he yanks open, his expression set in stone. “I leave the room for five seconds to take a piss and the scavengers descend.”

He’s ignored. All scrutinous eyes remain on me.

“Can you at least tell me if she’s okay?” Keira asks. “She’s barely spoken a word to me.”

“And why do you think that is?”

She winces, wrapping her arms around her middle.

“Are you making headway?” Hunter moves to the outdoor setting, cocking his hip against the corner of the table. “Or do we start making plans for you to join us in Portland?”

“He’s still got weeks, asshole,” Bishop snarls. “Don’t get your hopes up.”

“I can’t help it.” Hunter’s grin is subtle. “I can’t wait to start riding his ass into the ground.”

“You sure your bitch won’t get jealous?” I jerk my chin at Decker. “He seems like the possessive type.”

“I’m possessive as fuck, sweetie.” Decker takes a threatening step forward. “But don’t worry. I’ll get a turn riding your ass, too.”

“Stop it.” Keira moves in front of him. “We’re not here to cause trouble.”

Decker glares at me over her shoulder.

“Listen to your boss.” Bishop maneuvers around behind them, his attention on my hand as I slide it into my pocket to palm my blade. “You don’t want to start a fight you won’t win.”

I dig the metal into my thigh, deeper, harder, distracting myself from the call of violence.

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