Page 173 of Snared Rider
His eyes skitter to me, then dart around. “I’m not telling them anything.”
I take a patient breath, even though my patience is wearing thin. “I don’t want to fight.”
“No, you look like you’ve already done ten rounds in the ring.” His eyes go over my shoulder towards Logan and the boys, and I know what he’s thinking.
“They didn’t lay a hand on me.”
“I didn’t say they did.”
“You didn’t have to.” I drag my hand through my hair. “Look, I just… I wanted to say sorry for how things went down before they come in.”
He snorts. “Well, sorry fixes everything, doesn’t it?”
It doesn’t. I know this first hand. Still… I am trying here.
“Alistair—”
“Just don’t! I don’t want to hear it!” He bends at the waist to get in my face. “I gave you everything! A beautiful home, a life in which you wanted for nothing, the chance of being better than you are and you chose that Neanderthal! You’re completely fucking crazy! And then to top it all, you dump me? Me!”
My eyes widen even as my heart pounds. I’ve never seen such a display of anger from Alistair. It’s unsettling. He’s usually so composed.
For a moment I’m transported back to that hook, and it’s not Alistair in my face, but Wilson. I stagger back and go down a step, grabbing the railing for support. I try to calm my racing pulse even as I mutter, “The only thing I needed from you was love.”
“Love?” he says the word with derision. “Love can’t buy a beautiful home or a good career—”
He doesn’t finish what he’s about to say because a hand comes between us and shoves Alistair back. Then Logan is in the space I just occupied and Jem’s hand is on my arm, gently pulling me out of the way. Weed is at his brothers’ backs, his lips curled into a snarl as he glares at Alistair.
“You ever do that again to her and I’ll knock your fucking teeth down your throat,” Logan snarls.
Alistair swallows, then swallows again.
I don’t blame him. Logan and Jem look like they walked off the page of a Norse saga and Weed is hardly small.
“If you put your hand on me again I’ll call the police,” Alistair threatens, but his voice shakes.
“Yeah, you do that,” Jem says with humour in his voice. “While you’re there you can tell them how you’re trying to intimidate a girl half your size.”
Alistair’s eyes move between the three men before returning to me.
“And these are the people you choose to surround yourself with? Feral, rabid animals.” He hisses at me, “Did I mean that little to you?”
“Pal—” Logan starts, but I put a hand on his arm. By the tightening of his jaw, I can tell Logan is struggling to keep it together.
But this fight is not his; it’s mine and I don’t intend to let him fight it for me. When I’m sure Logan will not tear his throat out, I turn back to Alistair.
“Considering you don’t think I’m ‘wife material’, what do you care if we’re not together?”
He at least has the decency to look embarrassed by what he’d said on the phone. I feel Logan go solid next to me.
“You’re such a fucking idiot,” Logan mutters.
“Excuse me?” Alistair snaps and to be honest I’m astounded by this show of bravery. Logan, stood there in his kutte, looking like he crushes concrete blocks for fun, is not someone I would be riling up—particularly with Jem and Weed on his heels.
“I mean, don’t get me wrong, I’m glad you are a fucking idiot. It means I got a second shot with her. But you honestly think she’s not wife material? You’re fucking nuts.”
“A second shot?” Alistair’s eyes cut to me. “You’re dating him?”
Before things can get out of hand, I say, “I just want my stuff, Alistair. Once we have it, we’ll be on our way.”