“You really think you can fight me?” His smile is sharp, cruel. “That’s adorable.”
Then, he shoves me against the wall, pinning my hands above my head. My head slams against it. Hard. And blinding pain explodes through me.
I suck in a sharp breath, vision blurring.
“You don’t want to do this. Let me go, Stone.”
“On the contrary, I’ve wanted to do this forever,” he leans into the crook of my neck and lands a kiss there.
A shudder rips through me, equal parts fear and fury. My stomach churns, my pulse thundering in my ears.
I twist against his grip, thrashing, but his hands tighten like a vice. “Let go of me!” My voice comes out desperate, shaking — but not weak. Never weak.
—
He chuckles against my skin, breath hot, sickening. “Feisty,” he muses. “I like that.”
Rage flares in my chest. I angle my head back and slam it forward, my forehead cracking against his nose. He curses, his grip faltering for half a second–half a second I seize.
I wrench my knee up again, harder this time. He stumbles, but his hands find my waist, yanking me back before I can bolt.
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Panic claws at my throat.
No.
I won’t let this happen.
Not again.
I gather every ounce of strength I have, twisting and kicking, but Stone is stronger. His grip tightens, his patience snapping.
Then-
We’re so busy fighting each other, neither of us notice the door open until Stone is pulled off me by the collar.
Liam’s eyes are blazed with fury, a second later his fist connects with Stone’s jaw.
LIAM
THIRTY MINUTES AGO
I have to force myself to stay put and not chase after her.
Frustration knots in my chest, tightening like a fist around my ribs. It makes no sense.
Why do I care this much?
If Emilia wants to run back to Zane, that’s her choice. She doesn’t owe me anything.
All she has to do is fix my image – turn me back into the media darling I used to be. That’s it. Simple,
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Hell, wouldn’t it be easier for her if she just left me in the dust and rode off into the sunset with her ex?
Then why does the thought make me feel like I’ve just been checked into the boards. Hard.
A million excuses race through my mind, but none of them make sense. None of them feel right.
None of them are enough to make this up to Emilia.
“Shit.” I run a hand through my hair, leaning against the railing. For a second, I consider throwing myself over just to escape this mess.
The party is still going strong behind me, even though Becca and Zane disappeared over an hour ago. The music is loud, pounding through the night, which is probably why I don’t hear the footsteps until a sharp poke lands on my side.
I glance over my shoulder and raise an eyebrow.
Lacey. Half–drunk, swaying slightly in her heels, holding a half- empty bottle of whiskey.
I realise I can count on one hand the number of times I’ve seen her completely sober.
She lifts the bottle toward me in a silent offer.
I shake my head. “I’d rather not.”
She sighs dramatically. “More for me, then.”
Lacey leans on the railing beside me, tilting her head back for another sip. “You shouldn’t just stand here sulking. Go grovel
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for her forgiveness or something.”
I grimace. “You saw that?”
–
“Kind of hard not to.” She smirks. “I was busy admiring all the fine, emotionally unavailable men in the room, and then – bam — there’s sweet, lovely Emilia slapping the lights out of you. Fun times.”
–
I roll my eyes. “Did you come here just to make fun of me?”
“Kind of. Not really. But mostly.” She squints at me, then snorts. “You’re pitiful. Like a sad little kicked puppy.”
“Ha. Fucking. Ha.” I deadpan.
Lacey just grins and takes another swig of whiskey.
“So, you’re not gonna tell me what brought trouble to paradise?” she prods, tilting her head.
“I’d rather not, actually.” I repeat.
She hums, eyeing me like she’s putting pieces together. Then- “Oh god. It’s not jealousy, right?”
Silence stretches between us, the only sound is the slow slosh of whiskey in her bottle as she swirls it.
Then she groans, throwing her head back. “Ah, fuck, Liam. You can’t be serious.”
I don’t say anything. I don’t need to.
She sees right through me.
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“I’m so telling your sister about this.”
I grimace. Sometimes I forget why Lacey and I are even close in the first place.
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