Tainted Forever (Tainted Knights 5)

“My opinion wouldn’t matter to him,” Kin told him, her shoulders stiff.

“It’s not his opinion I’m concerned with.” Derrick glanced at me, imploring me to help him.

“Having dinner with your dad won’t kill you.” Kin glared up at me, but I didn’t backtrack. She needed to sit down with her dad and sort out their relationship. And if he did or said anything that upset her, I was going to knock his fucking ass out. “I’ll go with you.”

“Fine.” She gave in, her voice tight. “Friday night. If he doesn’t show, I’m done.”

“I’ll make sure he’s there,” Derrick promised, relief flashing across his face. “Thanks, sweetheart. I owe you big-time for this.”

“You’re damn right you do,” she grumbled. Pushing me out of the way, she waved at Nate for a refill, and he left the three NFL players in front of him to attend to her. The bartender’s eyes scanned over her face. “You okay?” he asked as he set her fresh glass in front of her.

“Peachy,” she told him, and I heard the catch in her voice seconds before her chin began to tremble.

Before I could say anything, she stepped back from the bar and walked away, not even touching her drink.

“Shit.” I caught her around the waist before she could get far, but she jerked away from me. “Kin—”

“Leave me alone,” she yelled over her shoulder. “Tell Derrick I’ll see him Friday night. I don’t want to see either one of you until then.”

“Baby, don’t do this.” I followed her down the stairs and past Tiny, who only lifted his brows at me. I shrugged as I passed him, hurrying after Kin.

She didn’t stop until she was outside, and only then to flag down one of the taxis lined up outside the club. I lifted her by the waist, keeping her locked against my side as I gave the valet attendant my ticket.

Kin’s hair hit me in the face in her effort to unlock my arm. “Let me go,” she growled.

“You’re stirring up the vultures across the street,” I warned.

“I don’t give a fuck. Let them take their pictures and print whatever shitty story they want to make up,” she seethed. “Let me go. I’m not going home with you.”

“Then we’ll go back to your place,” I assured her, keeping my voice calm.

“There is no we,” she yelled at me, her nails raking over my forearm. “I’m going home, and you can rot for all I care.”

Gut twisting in apprehension, I released her so I could turn her to face me. “What does that mean?” I demanded, paralyzed with dread.

She tossed her hair out of her face, her eyes full of tears. “It means maybe we shouldn’t be together, after all.”

“Don’t say that,” I begged.

“You’re still not putting me first. Everyone else in the world comes before me, including my dad.” Two fat tears fell from her eyes, and I wanted to hit rewind, redo the last ten minutes.

“Baby, I am putting you first,” I tried to explain, but from the tilt of her chin, I could tell she wasn’t really listening. I still had to try, though. “I want you to see Scott for you, not for him. Fuck him. He doesn’t deserve shit. But I know how much it matters to you. If you don’t sit down and at least talk to him, you’re going to regret it, Kin.”

“I have no regrets where he’s concerned,” she said, turning her face away. “I gave him months of my life to try to repair our relationship after Mom died. He blew it, and he doesn’t get another chance. I’m done giving anyone more chances to hurt me.”

“Kin, baby, just listen—” I was cut off as her face suddenly turned green and she bent, her stomach heaving as she puked at our feet. I jumped back out of the splash zone and reached for her hair, pulling it away so she didn’t get vomit in it. “Fuck, are you okay?” I rubbed her back, and she only groaned as she puked again.

I pulled off my shirt and used it to wipe her face. When the valet attendant pulled up beside us, I lifted her and placed her in the passenger seat. I buckled her in before going around to the driver’s side where the attendant was waiting patiently. I barely remembered to tip him before climbing behind the wheel.

“Where are we going?” I asked her as I pulled out into traffic.

“I don’t care,” she said weakly, pressing the side of her face against the window.

I grasped her hand, bringing it to my lips. “Is it okay if I take you back to my place? You probably have a stomach virus. It will be easier to take care of you there.”

“I don’t care,” she repeated, closing her eyes.

Glad she wasn’t fighting me any longer, I drove back to my apartment as quickly as I could. Pulling into my usual parking spot, I turned off the car. Kin didn’t even move, her eyes still shut. Figuring she must have fallen asleep, I walked around to the passenger side and lifted her into my arms, carrying her to the elevators.