Once in the kitchen, I dropped my duffle bag onto the floor and checked the fridge. No water, just a few Chinese takeout containers and some soda. I started opening cabinets looking for cups, but they were all empty.
Something was off about this place. Maybe Finn lived here alone like a bachelor and didn’t have time to stock the place? Maybe he didn’t have the money to spend on dishes? I turned the sink on and let it run a few seconds before tipping my head under to get a drink.
Water trickled down my chin as I felt a presence in the kitchen. Before I could stand upright, my wrists were pulled behind my back and handcuffs clicked into place. A bag went over my head, keeping me from seeing Finn’s face before he dragged me out the door.
Chapter 31
Kane
“Getyourshitandget out of my house,” I yelled at Dani’s back. I knew she would be out of here anyway, but barking the order made me feel like I had an iota of control over the situation.
I didn’t.
Not even close. Fucking her proved that I’d lost all control over myself. I hadn’t planned on doing it–it was an impulse. I was so angry, not only at her and my “best friend”, but at myself. Because even after knowing she stabbed me in the back, I still wanted her.
It was a low blow, what I said about her basically being a lying slut, but I wanted to hurt her like she hurt me. And not much hurt that girl.
I knew I hurt her because a single tear fell down her rosy cheek. I’d never seen her cry before and I’m not sure she would put in the effort to fake that.
What was there for her to be upset about? Because she got caught and I wasn’t going to fuck her again now that I knew she’d had Noah’s cock inside of her?
After the door to the second floor shut, I started throwing shit. I threw every glass bottle of booze against the wall, shattering them and making a huge fucking mess. I took a baseball bat to the TV in the living room and was in the middle of wailing on the coffee table when I heard clomping up the steps.
“Dude, are you okay?” Theo asked as he halted at the top of the stairs. Noah was behind him looking downtrodden.
“I feel like I could burn this fucking house down,” I admitted as I ripped a cigarette from my shirt pocket and lit it. It was hard to believe just an hour ago I was getting dressed up for a fucking costume party. Now my world was upside down and my insides were all fucked up.
“I mean…you look like you just lost a round at The Court.”
Oh, that. “I let her get a few hits in after I fucked her on the pool table.”
“Jesus, man,” Theo sighed, slowly moving closer to where I stood. “You didn’t hurt her, did you?”
“Just her ego,” I shrugged and focused on Noah. “She wouldn’t admit it. Kept playing dumb like she was innocent. But it’s all making sense now. How you were uncomfortable at the club when she was working. How youdidn’t like to watchother dudes look at her.”
Noah stood silent, too much of a pussy to admit I was right. How could I have been so stupid to miss those observations before? They were staring me right in the face, and I chose to ignore them because I was consumed with the girl.
Dad was right.Fuck, I hated it when he was right.
“Why don’t we all go downstairs, relax a little–” Theo said as I cut him off.
“I want to be alone.” I ignored their pained looks and plopped my ass on the couch. They eventually left once they realized I wasn’t moving. I finished my cigarette and then lit up another. And another.
Time passed, could’ve been an hour or two, when my phone went off with a text message.
L-word: Where r u?
God, I couldn’t deal with Lauren right now. My blood was still thrumming with anger. I was so fucking conflicted with what happened and what I believed.
I believed Noah. He was my best friend for years and he’d never lied to me. Why would he want to cause a rift between me and Dani by lying?
But that tear…it was making me question everything. And I hadn’t forgotten about the night of the masquerade ball. Dani wouldn’t lie to Ashtyn about something like that. She wasn’t a liar.Then why are you so sure she’s lying about Noah?
L-word: R u upstairs?
Is it really that hard to type out “are” and “you”?I wondered as I ignored her texts. For someone with so muchclassandpedigree, she typed like a child.
I closed my eyes and rested my head against the back of the couch. Maybe if I could fall asleep for a while, this pounding headache would go away.