Buttons & Hate (Buttons 2)

“That’s not what I was thinking.”

“Then what?”

The one thing I learned in life was to never let people know how much they hurt you. Keeping up a strong stance was essential to prevent people from hurting you further. “That woman you were with. Are you still seeing her?”

“What woman?” A dumfounded expression entered his eyes. He didn’t have a clue whom I was referred to.

“The woman you were sleeping with.” Unless there were more. That would just make me feel worse. “It still comes into my mind from time-to-time.”

His eyes slowly relaxed, the hostile burn dying away. “She never meant anything to me, Button.”

“But she meant enough to hurt me.” I didn’t bother lying anymore. My feelings were as obvious as the blue sky I looked at every day.

His eyes fell, the first sign of remorse he ever showed me. “I never slept with her.”

It was one thing to cheat but another to lie. “Don’t backpedal.”

“I’m not,” he said. “She and I were together before you and I met. But we went our separate ways when she left the country. She just returned and wanted to start up things again. I said no.”

“That’s not what you said.”

“Actually, all I said was I wasn’t yours and I could do whatever I wanted.” He kept his body on top of mine, not touching me for fear of hurting me with his weight. “I didn’t want you to know that I was committed to you. I didn’t want you to know you had a hold over me. So I let you believe it.”

Crow wouldn’t lie to me so I believed every word he said. “I wish you’d told me the truth...” I battled my heartbreak for a long time.

“I do too. I almost did before...” He didn’t finish the sentence because it was too painful. “When you refused to give me any of your buttons I knew how much I screwed up. I tried to make it right but took too long.”

“So...have you been with anyone else besides me?” I kept the hope out of my voice but it took all my strength to accomplish the task. My exterior was vulnerable and I was allowing him inside.

“Never.” He cupped my face, his fingers digging into my hair. “And I don’t want to be with anyone else.”

His coldness pushed me away for so long but now I understood what we had was meaningful. I was no longer a slave and he was no longer my master. What we had meant something—to both of us.

“I’m sorry I hurt you.”

My fingers wrapped around his wrist. “Don’t do it again.”

He held my gaze, our stares locked together. “I won’t.”

Chapter Ten

Crow

I entered through the backdoor with my gun on my hip and my knife in my back pocket. My men flanked me, covering me from every angle as we entered the closed café.

The lights were off with the exception of the single one glowing from the kitchen. The windows at the front of the shop were pitch black so unfriendly eyes couldn’t spot this unusual meetings.

His men scattered around the opposite side of the café, holding rifles and pistols. They were all dressed in black with bulletproof vests. Our terms were to come alone but neither one of us cooperated.

Bones sat a table in the center of the room, wearing his ordinary suit with a black tie. His blonde hair was combed back and his constant sneer was on his lips. His eyes were neutral within his poker face, giving nothing and taking nothing. “Crow.” He nodded to the seat across from him.

When I stared at this man hatred exploded within my body. He did terrible things to Button, put her in immense pain when she didn’t deserve it. He treated like a dog rather than a human being. He had the misconception that a woman like her could be bought.

I lowered myself into the chair and kept my hands on the table, a courtesy all criminals extended. When I was this close to his face I felt sick to my stomach. He oozed with longing and brutality. Even after all this time he was still desperate for the woman I took from him.

Now she was my woman.

“What do I owe the pleasure?” He folded his hands together, attempting to look refined but coming off as cheaper. He was like a knock-off imitating a designer.

The last time I saw him he shot Vanessa in the back of the head. Every muscle in my body was tense with the memory. I would never forget the way her blood showered through the air and clung to my skin. I’ll never forget the fear in her eyes the instant she slipped away. Sleeping was a luxury I no longer enjoyed. It was the gateway to suffering. “You know exactly why I’m here.” When I called for this meeting I didn’t explain my reason.