Total pages in book: 43
Estimated words: 39300 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 197(@200wpm)___ 157(@250wpm)___ 131(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 39300 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 197(@200wpm)___ 157(@250wpm)___ 131(@300wpm)
Because she already has me—every fucking piece of me.
Chapter Six
Tempest
"How are you possibly back already?" I ask, throwing the door open with a smile on my face…only for it to slide off when I see my cousin waiting on the other side instead of Dalton. "Triton."
"Expecting someone else?" he asks, one brow arched as he leans against the wall across the hall.
"Um…" Crap. I should have checked the peephole first. Dalton ran out to get breakfast ten minutes ago. I figured it was him coming back for some reason, not my cousin. I'm not prepared to deal with him yet. I already know how this conversation is going to go, considering that he never wanted me to marry Dalton.
But I guess I don't have a choice now. We're going to have to talk because I'm not going to lie to him. This is my life, my choice. He doesn't have to like it.
I square my shoulders and meet his gaze, steeling myself for the inevitable argument. "Maybe you should come in," I suggest.
His brows climb even higher as he pushes off the wall. "That sounds ominous," he mutters, strolling past me into the room.
His gaze skirts around, his nose wrinkling. "Jesus Christ, Tempest. It stinks in here." He turns to face me, his dark eyes narrowed with suspicion. "Did you spend all night drinking your sorrows away, baby cousin?"
"No…Dalton was here." I bite my lip when his expression immediately darkens.
"You're fucking kidding me," he growls. "What did that prick want?"
"Um, well…" I flounder, searching for the right words to explain.
His gaze drops to my left hand and his eyes widen. "Oh, my fucking god!" He grabs my hand, staring at the glittering diamond. "You married him?"
"Yes," I whisper, hating how small my voice sounds, as if I did something wrong, something I'm ashamed of doing. I clear my throat and try again. "Yes, I did."
I watch the emotions play across his face—shock, anger, betrayal, and finally, disgust. My stomach twists into knots. I knew he wouldn't take this well, but seeing the look in his eyes still hurts.
He drops my hand, shaking his head as he stares at me. For just a minute, it looks like sheer hatred flashes through his eyes. But that's not right. Triton loves me. He's always loved me. For as long as I can remember, it's been the two of us against the world.
"Tempest, Jesus," he mutters, shaking his head. "What the fuck were you thinking?"
"You know how I feel about him," I say defensively, my heart racing. I won't let him make me doubt this, doubt Dalton. Not after last night. Maybe Dalton doesn't love me. Maybe I'm deluding myself to think he'll ever feel that way about me. But he feels something. I know he does. I felt it last night. When he touched me, kissed me, held me—I felt it.
"Yeah, I do. I also know that you were just crying over him yesterday!" Triton snaps, shoving a hand through his hair as he paces the small hotel room like a caged animal, his fists clenched at his sides. I've never seen him this mad before. Not at me. "He just wants Evernight, not you. You're a fucking fool if you think otherwise."
Ouch. Harsh.
"That's not your business," I snap at him, my temper flaring white hot. He doesn't get to talk to me like that. No way.
"You're my business," he says, whirling to face me. "You know I'm just looking out for you."
"Really? Because it doesn't seem like it," I mutter, scowling at him with my arms crossed. "You're supposed to be my best friend. Out of everyone, I thought you'd be happy for me."
"Yeah, well, I'm not," he says, shrugging like my feelings mean nothing. "I'm not going to lie to you and pretend I am. I don't trust him. I don't like him. And I think this whole thing was a giant fucking mistake."
"Well, it was my mistake to make, Triton," I snap, feeling hot tears pricking at the backs of my eyes. I blink them away, refusing to let him see how much his reaction hurts. "It's my life, my company, and my future. Not yours."
His jaw pulses as he glares at me, grinding his teeth together. He's so mad. I don't get it. Aren't the people who love you supposed to be happy for you when you're happy? So…why isn't he?
"Fine." He holds up his hands, shaking his head. "If that's the way you want it, I'll butt out. You won't hear another goddamn word from me about it."
"Thank you," I sigh, relieved.
It's short lived. Extremely short lived.
"But don't come crying to me again when it all blows up in your face, and you're left heartbroken and alone." He holds my gaze, a tilt to his chin that's all too familiar. "Because mark my words, Tempest, that's exactly what's going to happen. Dalton Grady is going to destroy you. And you're just rolling over and letting it happen."