“Don’t talk about yourself that way.”
“Why not?” I’ve never heard her sound so cold. “It’s the truth, isn’t it?” She walks into the bathroom and shuts the door quietly behind her. A few seconds later, the shower turns on.
I let my head drop and curse hard. I fucked that conversation up, just like I seem to fuck up every conversation Harlow and I have had in the last couple years. No matter what I say or how I say it, I cut her with my careless words. The closer I try to hold her, the farther she slips from me.
If this hadn’t happened, she would have left me within the year, and I still don’t understand why.
“You’re a fucking fool.”
I lift my head. I hadn’t heard the door open, but now Abel leans against it, watching me with a cold expression. He was never so icy when I knew him, but I recognize it all the same. It’s the same face his father presented the world. “Thought you’d be gone for longer.”
“Yeah, well, plans change.” He studies the bathroom door. “I thought I’d have to spend some time bringing her around, but she’s so angry, she’s only too happy to jump on my cock to punish you.”
It takes everything I have not to react to that. I give him a slow smirk. “Are we going to talk about Harlow? Or are we going to talk about the fact that you just fucked my mouth and liked it?” He’s not the only one, but I’d rather die than admit it.
“A means to an end.” He’s still watching the bathroom door with a contemplative look on his face. “You know, I thought you’d make it more difficult for me, but you’ve served your faction up on a silver platter. Your old man must be spinning in his grave.”
More like my father might find a way to come back from the afterlife to gut me for the events of tonight. “He’s dead. What does he care?”
“Mm-hmm.” Abel finally looks at me. He was never soft, but the years away from Sabine Valley have made him look like he’s carved from stone. Like he’s seen shit and made choices no person should have to make. Because of what my father did to his family. Because of events I helped put into motion.
I search his face for the Abel I used to know, even as I recognize it as a hopeless endeavor. My best friend is gone. The man who’s become my enemy is the only one who remains.
“Why not just kill me and be done with it? That’s what you really want, right? Your revenge.”
“All in good time.” He says it so casually. “Where did you find her?”
I don’t like how I can’t seem to distract him from Harlow. No matter what she thinks, you can’t get a good read on a person from two conversations. Even with his absence, I’ve known Abel Paine the majority of my life. He is not a man to be trifled with, and while the man I used to know wouldn’t hurt an innocent, he won’t see Harlow as an innocent. She’s my woman, my other half in public. As far as he’s concerned, she’s in this world up to her eyeballs, and he’ll treat her accordingly. As a threat. Which means there are no protections in place to keep her safe.
“Answer the question, Eli.”
I give him an easy smile. “She’s been here all along. She grew up in the faction.”
He finally looks at me. “Tomorrow we go back to your place. You will inform your people that I’m now in charge—and of the consequences of trying the same shit they did eight years ago. You caught my father flat-footed. You won’t be able to do the same to me.”
“Abel—” It’s on the tip of my tongue to tell him the truth. I had a part to play that night, but it was never meant to be against him. Except intentions don’t matter, only actions and consequences do. I might not have wanted any harm to come to Abel and his brothers, but harm came nonetheless. Beyond that, I didn’t find them and bring them back. I let their exile stand.
So, yeah, I’m just as much to blame as my father.
“The only words I want to hear out of your traitorous mouth are ‘yes, Abel.’ You can stuff anything else.”
I clench my jaw and have to fight back a wince when the move sends pain splintering through my skull. “Why would I play nice?”
“You’re really going to make me spell it out?” He stops in front of me and drops into a crouch, putting us almost at eye level. Despite fighting eight people earlier, he’s moving without any stiffness or apparent injury. There are bruises on his face, yes, but they don’t seem to bother him in the least. Abel reaches out and taps my chin. “You’re so ready to throw yourself at me to distract from her. It’d be cute under different circumstances, especially because she fucking loathes it when you do that, but I don’t have time for the bullshit. I will fuck her every time you push back, Eli. And I’m going to make you watch me do it.”