Page 114 of Deliria

She glances back, looking at the arsehole in question before she leans right over the counter and presses her lips to my ear. Hot air creeps down my neck as she speaks. “Then let me let you in on a little secret, Rafferty,” She says, proving that she’s done her research, that she knows all about my family and who we are. “I am just as dangerous.”

“He’s going to try to kill you, you stupid fool.” I hiss. Christ, is she so damn full of herself that she can’t even listen to reason?

“Oh, he can try.” She laughs as if my words are a joke before stalking off, leaving the note there on the marble like she doesn’t give a shit if I pay or not.

I slide onto a barstool, letting my mind muddle over those words as I watch her, as I watch him. She smiles at him, laughs with him, places her hand on his arm in what is more than obviously a flirtatious move to encourage him.

“Better luck next time.” Teeth mutters as she picks up the money.

I pull a face at her but when my eyes return to the object of my attention, they don’t meet hers. They meet his.

Alexander. He’s staring right back at me. He picks up his drink, raises it enough for me to see and takes a sip like thismoment here is a victory lap. Like he’s already nailed his prize and is balls deep in her right here, in front of all of us.

Fine. If that’s the way they want to play it. If the stupid woman is so obstinate that she won’t listen to reason then so be it, it’ll be her funeral.

I sip my own drink, savouring the taste for a moment.

Fuck my brother.

Fuck the rest of my family.

And fuck Scarlett Heath too, because apparently she is just as bad as them, as us, the Forster’s. She wants to be belligerent, she wants to lay her head on the block, then so be it.

They can destroy each other.

They can destroy everything.

And I’ll be there to watch it, to witness it, to sit back and enjoy the spectacle until they’re all dead and buried and I’m the last one standing.

She’s gone.

The bed is empty.

I jump up like I’ve been shocked with electricity, fully expecting the doors to be off and my brother to be here. Only, that’s not the scene that meets me.

Instead, there’s just an empty room.

It’s eerie. Silent.

Like she just dissipated into thin air and slipped out in the morning sun.

Jesus Christ. Jesus Fucking Christ.

She left, didn’t she? She willingly walked out and once more put herself right in the line of fire.

I let out a snarl, clenching my fists, completely losing all sense of control as I realise the path she’s chosen. Oh, I know I said it was her decision. I know those were the words I spoke, but I’d hoped she’d be rational, reasonable. After everything she’s endured, I’d convinced myself that she would be here, curled up next to me and safe. That we’d get up, get on my bike, and we’d slip away before my family returned, before the carnage continued.

Instead, she’s chosen pain. Destruction.

I almost admire her for it. She’s got more guts than I realised. More guts than Alexander realises.

Well, she’s not going to be fighting alone, not this time. I’ve sat on the sidelines too long, sat back and allowed almost every horror to unfold. Today, I’m going to inflict a little of my own.

It may not be the plan.

It may go against everything we agreed on, but I don’t give a fuck.

In four days, Scarlett will have more money than she knows what to do with. If I play my cards right now, then she won’t have to suffer more for it, she won’t have to endure further abuse.

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