Page 39 of Brandishing Betrayals
He met my gaze and quickly looked down.
“Saygood-bye.”
“Bye guys. You coming to dinner Sunday?” Luke asked.
I froze slightly, realizing how Luke had just played me.Fuck my life.
“Uh, if it’s okay with your mom?” Nico asked, tactful as ever.
I forced a smile on my face. “I did say Sunday family dinners. It’s fine. We’re coming back from Chicago that day. So we’ll probably just do take out.”
“Mom, we should bring home Gino’s East from the city!” Luke exclaimed.
“It’d be cold by the time we got it here,” I sighed, trying to keep him off that. I really didn’t have the cash to buy dinner for everyone. I was barely going to be able to afford the gas to get there and back.
“It’s okay, Luke. We’ll pick up something and bring it. That way it’ll be hot when you get home and your mom doesn’t have to worry about it after a long drive.” Nico smiled and my heart warmed as the relief of not having to pay for another a meal, after what was sure to be an expensive weekend.
While the guys were saying their good-byes, I climbed into the front seat of my car. I was just closing the door when someone stopped it. Looking up, I found Jason standing there with his large hand on the top of door, pulling it back toward him. “Can we talk?” His voice was low, as not to draw attention to us, but I knew Nico was probably helping by distracting Luke, so Jason could confront me.
Fear spiked in my gut. “No.”
“Well then you can listen, while I speak,” Jason said.
Anger twisted through me. “No,” I said again. I turned toward the door, reaching out for the handle without looking up at him.
He stepped between the door and car before I could grab the handle, cause my hand to graze over his dick. Recoiling back, I snapped at him. “What the fuck, Jason?”
Crouching down, Jason got in my face. Fire blazed in his eyes as he braced one hand on the steering wheel and the other on the back of my seat. His slate gray eyes were a storm of emotions as he glared at me.
Feeling caged in, I leaned back as far as I could with the center console behind me, digging into my back. He had successfully cornered me and there was nothing I could do without making a scene—and I did not want to draw Luke’s attention to them.
“Can I just fucking apologize, already?” His voice was low and deep, that sensual fucking tone that always drove me fucking wild.
I was too incensed to listen to him. “No. You can’t.”Period, I thought in my head, reminding myself to keep him away and to keep him upset with me. It was safer that way.
“Well, I’m going to.”
I rolled my eyes and looked away, turning my body toward the steering wheel, as to not have to look at him further.
He grabbed my jaw and forcefully turned my face to his. Stifling a gasp at the raw pain storming in his gray eyes, I gritted my teeth and waited.
“Look, I’m sorry I hurt you. I’m sorry I let my anger and rage get the better of me.” The low melodic tone of his voice sent shivers down my spine. With just two sentences, I could feel my resolve cracking.His god damned voice!
Words escaped me, keeping my teeth clenched shut, I didn’t respond.
He watched me carefully, his gaze roaming slowly over my face, taking in every detail as he absently stroked my cheek with his thumb. “I never should have put my hands on you.”
I swallowed thickly, blinking back tears. God, I wanted nothing more than to lean into his touch and have him wrap his arms around me. But I couldn’t. I wouldn’t put herself, or Luke in danger like that. I didn’t know who was watching and it seemed like Dax was watching at all times now.
Steeling my resolve, I blinked away tears and took a breath before I responded emotionlessly. “Ok. You apologized. Let me go.”
Jason blinked, his mouth slowly opening. He looked almost dumbfounded by my response and it fuckingkilledme.
I had to stay strong, though. I HAD to keep them at arm’s length. My family depended on me.
He slowly dropped his hand from my face, his eyes searching mine as I glared at him.Walk away Jason.“Why did you leave, Maya?”
“I already told you—”
