Page 18 of Addicted to the Bad Boy
Every word I speak causes my anger to flare even higher. I have to take several deep breaths to keep myself from blowing like a volcano.
He swallows hard again. “Wait,thatisn’t what you think—”
“Oh, it’s not?” I laugh, pointing to the image on my phone. “This isn’t cheating? Deception? Betrayal? I don’t know what the hell she ever saw in you, Tyler, but she—”
I stop myself before blurting it out.
Not that I consider what Mira and I have been doing to be an affair—considering the sham their relationship is—but telling Tyler that Mira and I have been together will only make things worse. Maybe even start a fight. And that’s not what I need right now. I need to get what I want from him so I can have my life with my princess.
“So what is this?” he barks. “Blackmail? Just another chump out for my money, is that it?”
“I don’t want your money,” I snort, nearly breaking out into full-blown laughter. “You arrogant fuck.”
“What do you want then!?”
My lips twist into a smile. Got him. “You’re gonna give up Mira.”
Tyler’s jaw twitches. His eyes falter. “What? Why? So you can swoop in and be the big hero? You think she’ll date a guy likeyou?You think she’ll thank you for destroying the wedding of the century?”
If only he knew…
“I don’t care about any of that,” I reply. “What Idocare about is making sure you never lay a finger on her. Understand?”
He gets it. I can see it in his eyes. But Tyler isn’t a man who’s used to losing. He still thinks he has a chance against me. He scoffs, trying to hide the waver in his voice. “So you think you can threaten me with this?”
He points to my phone.
“Yes. I also think I canreallythreaten you withthis.” I raise my clenched fist so he gets a nice full view of my scarred, callused hand. “You don’t want to know the shit I’ve been through, Tyler. The things I’ve done. But I’ll tell you this much—if you don’t let Mira go, I’ll make sure you disappear. You can bet on it.”
“You’re bluffing.”
“Am I?” I ask, leaning so close he can smell the grease, the gas, the engine oil covering my clothes. “You man enough to try me?”
There’s a long pause. Tyler looks around, maybe hoping someone will step in and get him out of this jam. But everyone else in this place is as self-absorbed as he is. They’re paying us no mind.
Finally, he slumps back in his seat. “This is crazy,” he mutters. “Her dad will never let it happen.”
“I’ll deal with her father,” I growl. “And if you even think about telling him about our little meeting here, I’ll make surethisgets to him.”
I tap my phone, causing him to take a deep breath. He’s getting shifty, and with a quick gulp, downs the rest of his drink.
“So what is this then? You hold this over me for the rest of my life? Come back in another few years and try to extort me?”
I shake my head. “I don’t want your money, Tyler. In fact, I don’t want to ever see you again. All I want is for you tolet Mira go.”
Sweat is beading on his forehead. He wipes it with the back of his hand and nods anxiously. “Fine.” His voice is tight like an old spring. “You want Mira? Have her. You can tell her from me that the wedding is off.”
“I’m not telling her,” I reply, staring hard at him. He looks back at me like he wants me out of here now. I can’t blame him.
“You want…me to tell her?”
I nod. “That’s right.”
He glares back. Privileged bastard isn’t used to a confrontation like this. He’s wondering where his lawyers are, his fixers, his yes-men who can handle this situation for him.
Too bad for him that’s not happening.
“Fine, I’ll tell her.”
