Page 39 of The Packaged Deal
Every time I look at her, I remember the way she felt on my lap, and the guilt flares up again. I should have been more gentle with how I rebuffed her. Anything would have been better than flinching away from her. So rude. That’s not me. I’m not like that, but just as she leaned forward, I remembered the feel of his boot hitting my face. I didn’t want her to see my scars. Which is ridiculous. They’re hardly visible. I just…care what she thinks. Which is new and terrifying.
I don’t even care what Sven thinks.
Not the problem, Kandi. I remind myself. Sven and Adrian are really carefully not looking at each other. Jade is on the couch, staring into space with this blank expression that makes me feel itchy.
How the fuck did this creeper find her, and why can’t I find any record of a Trevor. Who is this man?
“All right, let’s talk.”
The doorbell rings, and Jade shrinks into her blankets. For a moment, I just stare, all thought obliterated from my mind. My nails pierce my palms, and my chest is so tight drawing a breath is hard. Nope, I’m not okay with this at all.
Adrian goes to the door and comes back with enough food to feed the four of us for days. He hands out plastic forks and drags a huge coffee table in front of the couch. He and Sven sit on the floor and start taking lids off containers.
Idiots.
Well, I’m not afraid of her. I sit beside the silent omega. She doesn’t move, so I bump her with my shoulders.
“Eat.”
She makes a hissing sound, but the blankets come down from her shoulders, and she blinks at the food.
When she doesn’t move, Sven makes a sound of annoyance and puts a plate in her lap. He then passes one to me.
I used to hate it when he made my plates for me, but after a long talk with Missy, I came to accept that it was his way of saying he cared. Still, sometimes it bothers me. Today is not one of those days.
Perhaps I stay silent because of my love for him. The same way I don’t push when it comes to the doctor. Adrian is as silent as the omega, eating with no interest. I study his dark hair and the tense line of his shoulders. He’s wearing down. He didn’t look like this a year ago.
I wonder how he feels. I often find myself wondering how much Sven and I hurt him. Why does he stay? Apparently, he’s been pushed too far.
“So, let’s have an honest conversation,” I say.
“We don’t have to,” Adrian starts but cuts off when I glare.
I look at my boyfriend. “Sven, what are you doing?”
He peers up at me and glances down again. We both know what I mean. “Eating.”
I let out a growl.
“You kissed him last night and agreed to try so that it would get him to stay,” I say with no inflection.
Sven puts his plate down and lifts his eyes to meet mine. He’s silently telling me to leave it alone. He’s giving me an order as my boss. But I can’t because I can’t watch him hurt Adrian or Jade.
“Then you ran.”
Sven’s jaw works. “I don’t run.”
“Looked like running,” I say and point my fork at him. “You got scared, and you ran.”
“I do not run,” Sven growls out.
“Adrian was waiting for you. Imagine how he felt. You begged him to stay, he agreed, and then you ran. Cold, Alpha, really cold.” I’m pushing all the buttons I promised I’d never push. I’m being that girlfriend, the one I never wanted to be.
“So, we all want to know why. But I know you’re not going to tell us. Let’s not waste our time here. None of us are equipped to protect Jade. I can’t do it alone. You’re the best. We need you here. You saw that Trevor found her here, and, Sven…”
He glares at me. I let him see how worried I am.
“I can’t find him.”