Page 30 of Ignite
“Stay away from him,” he demanded, trapping mywrist.
“Why?” I asked, pouting. “You don’t ownme.”
The foul look on his face deepened. “He’s bad news,Ali.”
“Probably,” I shot back, pullingfree.
“You know it, and you still shove your tits in hisface?”
My mouth fell open. “I didn’t shove my tits in his face! You obviously sleep around, but when a woman wants to have an innocent conversation with another man, she’s a slut. I would hate to think what I’d be branded if I actually slept with the guy. Thanks, Liam. Thanks alot.”
“Bloody hell,” he cursed. “I didn’t call you a slut,Ali.”
“He’s a bad guy, so what? I’m not taking him home, and I’m not going to his place,” I went on. “Maybe we’ll do it out back, and I’ll be the one who gets up and leavesafterward.”
“Are you listening to yourself right now?” he asked darkly, closing the space betweenus.
“I can hear myself loud and clear. It’s you who isn’t listening.” He was standing so near I could smell the scent that clung to his skin. I would never forget it. Never. I shivered and turnedaway.
“Ali, just be careful,okay?”
And there it was.Ali, be careful, notAli, forget about all those other guys, and be with me. I tried not to let the disappointment reach my tear ducts, but it was tooquick.
“You didn’t want me,” I said. “So you don’t get to frighten off anyone who does. You don’t have anyright.”
If he heard me, he didn’t say anything. He just let me walk away, and as I put distance between us, I was sucked deeper into a heartache I thought I would never feel again. That was how I knew all of it was real. It was a harsh reminder of the moment I was told my parents had died. The exact same feeling of loss I never wanted to experience again threatened to overwhelmme.
I was fast learning it was a part of life I couldn’t avoid if I wanted to live. Going to The Underground was a risk, and I knew what the consequences might’vebeen.
I just didn’t expect to fall head over heels for the first guy Isaw.
13
Liam
Islammedmy fist down onto the bar and cursed, causing a few people around me toscatter.
Ali had disappeared through the crowd, leaving mereeling.
You didn’t wantme.
I was letting her believe a lie, and it hurt more than copping a right hook right in theteeth.
Hissing, I turned and strode through The Underground, making my way out back. I still had to fight tonight, no matter what mood I was in. Championship points didn’t awardthemselves.
Pushing into the male change room, I immediately spied Viper, and my hackles rose. He was leaning against the wall, his arms crossed over his chest, and smiled the moment he sawme.
I could see it in his eyes. The triumph. That whole show with Ali was just that.A show. Viper didn’t give one shit about her. All he wanted was to get a rise out of me, and I’d played right into his hands. Imagine what I would’ve done if I’d caught his tongue down her throat. If I found out he’d slept with her… Murder, that waswhat.
Rebel was right. Viper was looking for my weakness, and he’d foundit.
Striding over to him, I snarled, my vision blurring with pure anger. “You want to fuck with me, then fine, fuck withme.” I pointed to myself to emphasize the point. “Leave her out ofit.”
“See, here’s the thing,” he said, his voice remaining calm and steady. “I can do whatever I want, Blade. Who are you going to call? The cops?” Hesnorted.
“Are you threateningme?”
“I could ask the same thing,” he replied, pushing off thewall.
