Page 80 of For Wrath and Redemption
“What exactly are you suggesting?”
“She’s a beautiful girl. A good worker. But she’s not for you.”
“Excuse me?”
“She’s not one of your little fans. Ms. Davis is...ambitious. You need to be careful.”
I laugh so I don’t explode on him.
“I’m sorry, Dad, but are you pissing on her or protecting me from her?”
“Don’t be glib, Jonah. I am saying do not fuck Ms. Davis. Women like her cannot be trusted, and that one’s wily. I wouldn’t put it past her to tr?—”
“Shut the fuck up,” I force through my teeth. I’m seething. “You don’t get to tell me shit about her. Not a single fucking thing.”
“She will use you to get to me. To get to your money. Trust me, I know women like her.”
“Jesus Christ. Spare me a lecture about your past fucking mistresses.”
And hiscurrentfucking mistress.
I press my palm into my forehead. Hot ash from my cigarette falls onto my wrist, but it doesn’t stop the visions. Him and Claire. Claire and him.
He’s fucked her. Christ, she thinks he’s her fucking boyfriend, and I can’t get a handle on my jealousy and rage. I hate him for having her. I hate her for making me want her. I hate myself for falling back into this place I always swear I’ll never return to.
Then I see my mother. My brother. I see a younger me standing against a wall, observing. Always fucking observing. Never part of the family. Never wanted. Only needed.
Needed until I was no longer useful.
Something inside tells me that what my father is saying about Claire isn’t true. She’s not a user. She wouldn’t sleep with me for personalgain.Iseducedher. There’s something between us. I fucking feel it. I fucking know it.
But goddamn it, my head is such a mess.
I’m so fucking used to being used.
“Women like her know how to play a man. She’ll lure you with charm. Get you to let her into your bed. And then she’ll pounce. One night of fun could?—”
I hang up.
I crouch down and put my forearms on my knees. Thank fuck this pub is in an alley, and I don’t have to worry about pedestrians. Thank fuck Edinburgh is more chill than LA. It’s almost safe to have a mental breakdown in public.
“Shit, Jo. You okay?” Torren’s hand lands on my back, and he crouches beside me. “What’s up? Do I need a medic or something?”
I bark out a dark laugh. “More like a contract killer.”
“For who?”
“Conrad Henderson.”
“What did he say?”
I laugh again, then push myself to standing. Torren follows.
“More bullshit. Gave me such a fucking headache that I had to take a moment.” I avert my eyes from Torren’s as I take out another cigarette. I check my watch as I spark it up, trying like hell to hide the trembling in my hands. “Almost soundcheck. Let’s go before we piss off Sav.”
The sooner I get away from him, the sooner I can turn my mind off.
I just need it to shut the hell up for a while. Then I’ll be fine.
