Pretty Little Lies

8. Torin

EIGHT

torin

I’ve never enjoyed taking the high road, nor do I enjoy watching Bay make out with Levi Wallace after all the things I’ve done with her.

But I stay rooted to my spot, watching the scene play out in front of me as I curl and uncurl my fingers into tight fists, just waiting for it to stop so I can breathe again.

So, I was wrong.

Each time I had Bay up against me or my fingers were somewhere on her skin, I swore she was playing me with this fairytale of being Wallace’s girl. That it was some sort of shield to keep me from her once again because I’d be scared to endure his wrath.

I’ve been here before, fantasized over this woman time and time again, and she’s still out of my reach. I can’t fully lay claim on her as mine until I deal with Wallace and the little stunt he pulled with Reeve.

Yeah, I know about it.

I’ve also reamed Reeve out about stepping foot into South Shore without backup, because the reality of what could’ve happened could have been so much worse. He’s just lucky as fuck that he has a dark guardian angel hanging over his shoulder or he’d still be in a metal shipment container with no way home.

And I never would’ve conjured up Wallace’s game plan of shipping him off instead of killing him like I thought he would. But maybe he didn’t want to dig a hole.

Regardless, he’s on my shit list, and I’m going to get his ass at the first given opportunity. Wallace is only making it worse on himself.

Bay is mine.

I’ve said it time and fucking time again and bitched at myself for it. That no woman is worth this, but I can’t stop the carnal need to own that blue-eyed vixen with every ounce of me. I’m starting to realize how Matteo felt minus the small-dick energy and the weak-ass gang he manages, but to let her go is losing. It’s not having the one piece of light that I think we all crave within the depths of our dark. Nothing compares or has even come close to Bay Astor in my lifetime.

And I’ve never wanted anyone more.

She may hate me for pushing the bar and getting in her space while Matteo was around. She might loathe my cocky and entitled ass to where I want everything my way or the highway.

Shit, she may even despise me for not fucking her way back when, even though I wanted to, but this little shitshow that I’ve been watching for three minutes too long is where I’ve come to a crossroads.

Is this woman worth the destruction and work that my crew would need to go through to obtain?

Wallace obviously wasn’t a fan of Reeve randomly showing up to her house. And I can only imagine how he’d feel if he knew that I’ve already had her, but I’m never going to bring that up, and I would never put her in a dangerous situation in front of one of the most cutthroat assholes I know. It’s only annoyingly fitting that Bay may belong to Wallace.

She’s only meant for royalty and power.

Everyone else is a worthless pawn to someone that fucking magical and intoxicating.

“Wildes, do you wanna another drink, man?” I glance over at Tank, the dude’s birthday bash that I’m attending tonight, and shake my head. My expression must state everything, because he doesn’t push it, and knows that even half in the bag, I’m not in the mood to be peer pressured. I only want to storm across the floor and rip Bay out of Levi’s liplock, then beat his face in.

“You need to stop staring. You’re starting to look like a fuckin’ creep.” I don’t do what my best friend tells me to do and watch as Levi’s hand begins to drift too close to her ass.

“I told you not to come here tonight.”

“And miss seeing my girl?” Reeve muses at my side. Always the fucking idiot. “Never. I had a feeling she was going to show up tonight.”

Really? Because I didn’t.

And I’m starting to think I’m losing my touch.

“Is that why I just heard Phil fucking Collins?” I solicit evenly, right when Bay and Levi part swapping saliva.

He chuckles, watching what I am, but he doesn’t seem a bit fucking pissed off like I am. I’m fucking raging at this point, and it’s taking everything in me not to break Levi’s balls. “Inside joke.”

I scoff. Since when do Bay and him have jokes?

“So, what’s this show all about?”

“What do you mean?” I press. “They’re fucking together.”

“Sure about that? It only took the man eight years to kiss her. And, even then, she initiated.”

“Wallace doesn’t come off as a PDA kinda guy,” I reply through clenched teeth. “Maybe you got a little too close and he’s feeling territorial.”

“Seems pretty pointless since I’m supposed to be halfway to Mexico by now.”

I steal a look at him, finding him viewing the same show I am. “Which is why you shouldn’t be here. If one of Wallace’s men sees you, your cover is blown.”

“It’s going to be blown sooner or later,” he affirms. “I’m not going to go under witness protection just because Wallace has a problem with me seeing my girl.”

I just stare at him. Words evade me because, what he’s got going in his head is denial.

Maybe I have it, too.

And, the fact that he just said that doesn’t bother me either. Especially since I’m not used to sharing anything.

“All in due time,” Reeve says before he slaps a hand to my shoulder blade. He takes note of me and smirks. “Just remember, I’m marrying her. So, whatever the fuck long-term plans that you have forming in your little head, just remember that.”

“Yeah, whatever,” I mutter, scanning the space again for Levi and Bay to see what other body part I need to break of Wallace’s, but they’re gone.