“It’s okay,” he told me. “Leave if you want.”
“Damon—”
“You want to, I know you do. I don’t need you. I never did.”
My chest caved. Why was he doing this? Why did he always do this?
“Come on.” Kai took my hand.
But I pulled away. “Just go.” I bowed my head, unable to look at him. “Go back to the party.”
“Banks.”
“I’ll never leave him,” I bit out at Kai.
Not ever. I stepped over to my brother and took his hand, willing Kai to just go.
Twice tonight I’d chosen Damon. He didn’t know we were family, and he might understand more if he did, but that information still wouldn’t change anything. Damon came first. Always.
My brother squeezed my hand, a subtle gesture telling me he forgave me.
“Chicks, man,” he said to Kai, a touch of humor in his voice.
Silence stretched between them, and I could feel Kai’s eyes on me. He was a good guy, but he wouldn’t take being jerked around a third time. I stared at Natalya, each second Kai stood there stretching out like an eternity.
“Yeah,” he replied. “Crazy night, huh?” And then I saw him back away out of the corner of my eye. “See you Monday at school.”
And then he left, my heart aching more every moment he didn’t turn back around and come back through the doors for me. Later, when I’m alone and lost in my head, I’ll wonder what would’ve happened if I’d followed him. If I’d taken his hand and hid away with him the rest of the night.
Damon pulled me in, kissing my forehead. “Good girl. You never let me down.”
Natalya moaned, her eyelids fluttering open. Blood saturated her hand, and although it looked like a nasty cut—or several nasty cuts—the flow wasn’t too bad. We needed to get her to a doctor, though. She’d need stitches or something.
Damon handed me his phone and then squatted down, staring at her. “Call David,” he told me. “Tell him to get his ass here to pick you up, and go wait for him in the lobby.”
“Why can’t you take me home? Let’s just go—”
“I’ll be home later,” he said, his eyes still on her. “I need to clean up here.”
Banks
Present
I speed-walked down the busy street, swerving around pedestrians with one hand in my coat pocket and the other holding a large envelope with yet another contract for Kai to sign. He was supposed to be at the dojo, but when I got back from my errands this morning, he’d texted, telling me to meet him at his club instead. He knew I didn’t have a car, dammit.
And I wasn’t ready to face him.
Last night, in that hotel, buried on a secret floor and in a room with no phones, no television, and no one but us, it was unimaginable. Like a dream that I was pulled away from and kept closing my eyes to chase sleep again just so I could go back there. Was that only a few hours ago?
He’d tried to pry a little more information out of me last night, but he didn’t push too hard. When my guard went up, I knew he didn’t want to ruin what just happened. He was good about reading my signals, I’d give him that.
He’d wanted to take me home, but I was gone before he could fight me again. I dived into the rainy night, everything that had felt so good, suddenly ebbing away, and I didn’t know how to get it back. Guilt and shame, the feeling of Damon’s eyes on me, judging me, why couldn’t I get over it?
So, I fucked a guy. Who cares? I liked it. Sue me.
But it was daytime now, and the consequences might be slow, but they were coming. My skills didn’t extend far enough to juggle my desire for one and the demands of another.
Jogging up the steps of Hunter-Bailey, I swung open one of the double doors and walked inside, the citrus furniture polish immediately surrounding me. Wood shone everywhere, and the grandfather clock in the lobby ticked by to my left.