Dirty Bad Boys Box Set: Forbidden Romance Collection

He was always on his phone and became snappy on occasions when I asked him what he was doing. The signs all pointed to him being an ass, and I don’t even know what hurts me more—his infidelity or the humiliation of the world finding out.

And they will find out.

Page six news—Wesley Rich Caught in a Hooker Drug Scandal.

Followed by the pity—Poor Emerson. She deserves better.

Then the trolls have their say—Serves her right for trying to change him and she got what was coming to her.

I stay outside for a good fifteen minutes, staring blankly at the ground. Dragging my feet along, I walk into the bar and plaster a fake smile calling Harry for another round. I know it’s not the best idea but the boys won’t know any different.

“Another round? Fuck. We haven’t drank this hard since the night I got hitched,” Ash says with a burp.

“The night you fucked up your life?” I say with a straight face staring my brother down.

“The night I fucked up my life? Wow! Thanks for the support, sis. Nice to know you have my back.”

“I don’t have your back. And even if you told me, I still wouldn’t have your back,” I raise my voice. “Marriage is for fools. Love is overrated, and you’ll probably get screwed over then come running back to Logan and me to fix all your fucking problems.”

Ash’s face falls then switches to anger as I don’t back off while I reflect my own troubles back onto him. I need a punching bag and my brother has the target smack bang in the middle of his face

“Are you done now?” he grits, standing beside Alessandra who looks disappointed by my outburst.

“Yeah, I’m done, Ash. Have a nice fucking marriage.” I grab my purse and storm out, searching around for something or someone to take me anywhere but here. There’s nothing in sight but a dark road and trees swaying in the shadows. I should be scared, but what’s out there lurking behind the shadows should be scared of me right now.

The sticks and stones beneath my feet crackle with every footstep, and just when I think I’m alone, I’m startled by the force of hands lifting me up and throwing me over a shoulder.

Logan.

Chapter Four

“Love is just one pile of bullshit.

And I’m the one who stepped in it.”

~ Emerson Chase

“What the hell happened back there?”

Wriggling my body out of his grip, Logan drops me to the ground as I tumble and manage somehow to not fall over on the dirt. The foliage beneath my feet crunches, echoing the silence that surrounds us.

My chest is heaving, with noisy breaths that exhale through my nose while the thumping inside—from a broken heart—fuels the adrenaline.

Why the fuck did Logan have to follow me?

I want nothing more than to be left alone and sob like a fool.

Refusing to answer him, I continue to storm off, the dirt and pebbles pushing into my brand-new wedges as my steps quicken hoping to escape him. There’s a narrow pathway where town folk often walk their dogs, and with the pale moon the only light guiding me, I follow my instincts until I reach the end of the trees with the lake in full view.

In the distance, there are speckles of lights from the few houses which surround it. It’s such a beautiful place and one that holds memories of my childhood. The three of us would ride our bikes into the same bush causing mischief like the rascals we were.

Dad would take the boat out, teaching Ash and me a thing or two about fishing. We enjoyed it until Dad showed us one day how to gut a fish which had me vomiting overboard—a very unpleasant memory.

Beside the rundown jetty which has many planks missing and shakes when you walk across, sits the giant rock we used to fight over. I don’t know why I gravitate toward it and find myself staring blankly. Then out of the blue, I raise my foot and kick it hard with the tip of my shoe.

Ouch.

“He’s an asshole,” I yell, hopping back trying to control the agony sweeping through my foot and up my leg.