Page 52 of Blackbeard
He set his beer bottle on the table with a sharpclank. Then he pushed his chair back and rose to his feet, rolling his neck and shoulders with a groan.
“You’re looking a little tense, Leigh,” Torch said. “If I had to take a guess, I’d say your husband is falling short on his duties in the bedroom.”
Blackbeard chuckled, low and dark, at the jibe.
“Trust me, I made sure she has every ridge and every vein memorized by now.”
Torch flashed his teeth in a wolfish grin.
“Check your ego, brother. It’s not possible to satisfy a woman with two measly inches. She probably faked it to make sure your pride wasn’t bruised.”
Blackbeard arched an eyebrow and his demeanor cooled with an arctic drop in temperature.
“Are you speaking from first hand experience, brother?” he spat. “Because I don’t have that problem.”
When Torch took a threatening step forward, understanding dawned on me. I was a fucking idiot to think he was here for my sake. To reminisce about old times and get together for a fling, just like we used to do.
Torch was here to tip Blackbeard’s hand. Forcing him to lash out and attack Torch, which would put even more strain on the peace agreement between the Forsaken and the Blackjacks. This was simply part of the plan to chip away at the Blackjacks’ foundation, causing them to crumble.
I shouldered between them, putting one hand on Torch’s chest, and my other hand on Blackbeard’s chest. Pushing them apart.
“Stand down, boys. No fist fights in the kitchen. I mean it.”
Blackbeard rocked back on his heels, ready to let it go.
But Torch leaned forward, prepared to barge past me to get to Blackbeard.
“If Popeye had known you would turn his daughter into your own personal cock-sleeve without the decency to make her come, he would have never allowed you to get anywhere near that contract.”
Blackbeard growled and jabbed a finger at Torch.
“You break into my house. Eat my food. Then you have thegoddamn ballsto insult me and my wife.”
My stomach clenched at the grit in his voice when he saidmy wife.
Why did that sound so…good?
I didn’t get the chance to soak it in though. Torch was trying his hardest to start a brawl. I knew Blackbeard was too smart to fall for that trick. But Torch could take the first swing, pushing Blackbeard into defending himself.
This wasn’t the plan. It was supposed to be a gradual progression, continually building conflicts that would undermine the Blackjacks so they would fall apart.
Had Dad changed things without telling me? Torch’s hostile demeanor, picking this fight intentionally, was too fast, too sudden.
Using both hands now, I used all my strength to shove against Torch’s chest. He stumbled back a few steps, stunned.
For the second time, I was choosing the Blackjacks over the Forsaken. I chose to stay when my father told me to leave. And now, I was siding with my new husband instead of Torch, who I had known for most ofmy life.
It’s part of the act,I told myself.I’m supposed to do this. I’m supposed to play the part of a loyal wife to earn Blackbeard’s trust.
Then why did it feel like I was turning against Torch, against my father, against the Forsaken? Why did it feel like a betrayal of my own people instead of betraying the Blackjacks that I had been planted here to do?
“I said,get out,” I barked. “Don’t make me tell you again.”
Torch huffed and marched past me, bumping his shoulder purposefully against Blackbeard before he walked out.
I released a long, tired sigh and rubbed my forehead. A tension headache was beginning to squeeze my temples.
“He still has feelings for you,” Blackbeard said.
