“Good.” Neil glowers at me. “You should feel lucky to have my attention. Do not squander it.” With that, he turns and leaves. It takes me a good five minutes before I can think to move again. After I somehow manage to try on the rest of the clothes, and make my final decisions, I wait with Nei
Neil is waiting for an answer. He’s in one of those controlling moods of his. He won’t move until I give him what he wants. Usually, I find this kind of thing unbearably sexy, but right now, I just feel kind of put on the spot. “If you had just let me give Tide the money he needed, then he wouldn’
I throw a few more punches and a couple of quick kicks. Mia coos loudly like she’s cheering me on. Or she wants attention. Or both. I lower myself down onto the ground and pull her into my lap. “Someday, I’ll be strong enough to protect you too, Mia.” But first, perhaps one of my greater c
Mia sits on the ground, clapping her hands together as I walk one direction, stop, turn, and then head in the other direction. I’ve paced the room so long my hip joints are starting to ache, but I can’t convince myself to sit still. Beau said whatever is happening to Neil at the hands of his fathe
I feed Mia a little more. Steven finishes his noodles but makes no move to leave. He’s building up to something. I can tell from his constipated look. “Out with it then,” I say. “Oh.” He drops his head a little, like he’s embarrassed I called him out. “I was just thinking…” He clears his throa
“Stay out of this, Wyatt,” I snap. “It’s not my fault if you can’t handle the truth. You are a slut, plain and simple. Everyone knows you are attempting to seduce the brothers one by one.” “That’s not true.” Any relations I have had with the brothers have been mutually consensual. No one is sedu
“Come inside, Chloe,” Neil says. He’s not looking at me. It isn’t until he says my name that I realize he’s addressing me at all. I jump to follow the order, eager to get away from Wyatt. This feels something like a rescue, and I’m not about to look that gift horse in the mouth. I duck into Neil
I am struck speechless by the sheer amount of bruises covering Neil’s bare chest. His usual attractive physique is hidden behind splotches of red and purple. Angry, swelling marks and cuts with drops of blood. “This is a lesson?” I ask. Outrage swirls inside of me, making my gut clench uncomfortab