I try to shake him off, but he backs me into a small alcove, his pale face looming over mine. Up close, his eyes are bloodshot, and his once comforting cloves-and-ginger scent hits me like a punch to the gut. “Get out of my way, Lee!”
He just shakes his head and plants his arm on the wall, caging me into the corner. “I heard you got a loan from your boss to finish the house. When you sell it, I need you to hand over my share.”
Hand over his share?
Is this asshole for real?
“What the fuck, Lee? That’s the first thing you have to say to me inmonths? How about ‘sorry for leaving you in the lurch with all my debts, Kate’?”
His face hardens, his skin waxy even in the dim lighting. “I need my return on my investment.”
“Why?” I glare at him, watching the dark bags under his eyes twitch. “You’re bonded into one of the wealthiest packs in the city.”
“Yeah, but not as wealthy as your boss,” he mutters, casting a hunted look over his shoulder. “Look, I have some debts, okay? They’re not the kind of thing I can take to Suzanna.”
“What happened toSuze?” I snark, earning a narrow-eyed glare. I give it back with interest, crossing my arms across my chest. “I seriously don’t care about your problems, Lee. But if you want what’s left over after the sale, you can talk to Bram Webber. His number is in the phonebook.”
I’m sure that it will be a far more painful conversation than just coming clean to his mate, but deception is second nature to Lee.
“Are you fucking him?” His lip curls, his eyes settling on the scar on my neck. “Newsflash: the Janssen pack has just bonded the star of the show. So, what does that make you? Their piece on the side? Their pack’s companion?” He must catch my slight flinch because he gives a horrible, grating laugh. “Oh, shit… Really, Kate? I thought you had more respect, but I guess you always were a bit of a doormat.”
I stare at him, more disgusted than hurt.
Thisis the Lee I refused to see all those years. Cold eyed and cruel tongued, like he has the right to tear others down. Maybe I was a doormat for not confronting him years ago, but he doesn’t hold any power over me anymore. “Fuck you, Lee. You’re the one the LaGrange pack are wiping their feet on. The only reason she wanted you is because she saw how happy I was. Or maybe she just decided to add another nasty little narcissist to her nest.”
Lee’s nostrils flare, his scent sour in the air. “Watch your fucking mouth,unbonded…”
Lee is too busy glaring at me to notice Lachlan coming up behind him. His face is a picture of worry until he realizes who has me boxed in the corner, and then he grabs Lee’s shoulder, almost jerking him off his feet. “What the fuck is going on here?”
I use the opportunity to slip out of the alcove and step behind him, tugging on the corner of his jacket. “It’s okay, Lachlan. We’re done here.”
In every way.And I don’t feel even a glimmer of sadness. All this encounter has shown me is that Lee did me a favor by walking out.
But my ex is looking between us with narrowed eyes. “Jesus! You’re fuckinghimas well? My best friend?”
I’d laugh at the accusation if Lachlan didn’t give a growl worthy of an uber. “Assholes like you don’t have friends, Morrison. And if you touch her again, I’ll break your goddamn hands.”
There’s nothing but grim resolve in Lachlan’s voice, but Lee is too caught up in his own bullshit to heed the warning. I can almost see the venom seeping out of him as he looks up at Lachlan – the superior man in every way. “You’re pathetic, you know that, Cookie? I bet you were just drooling to shoot your shot. As soon as I dumped her, you probably came running to lap up my sloppy seconds.”
The words are barely out of his mouth when Lachlan’s arm snaps forward, his fist slamming into the center of Lee’s sneering face. He was always ugly when he was running someone down, but there’s something almost beautiful about the crunch of his nose as he stumbles back and slumps against the wall. My only concern is for Lachlan’s knuckles as I draw him back and inspect his hand.
Lee’s wails, however, can probably be heard all the way out on Long Island, so it’s not surprising that he draws a crowd. First to arrive is his omega, Suzanna’s shocked gaze taking in the sight of her mate slumped in the corner. She’s flanked by her blank-faced mates, although none of them make any move to lift Lee off the floor.
“What the hell is happening here?” Suzanna demands, glaring in my direction.
Lachlan dusts his hands off like they’re not spotted with Lee’s blood. “College reunion. Lee just needed a refresher in party etiquette.”
Suzanna sucks in a furious breath, then points one of her heavily ringed fingers in my face. I’m pretty sure it’s just to give me an up-close view of my old bonding ring on her bony finger. “I will sue you to within an inch of your life! When I’m finishedwith you, your Brooklyn house will be mine, and you’ll be living in a cardboard box under a bridge.”
Smug satisfaction tightens her features, and I stare at her in disgust. I know she has zero interest in the house for herself. It’s just more evidence that she only wants what other people have, and all the better if they’ll suffer at the loss. How that makes her feel better about herself is beyond me.
“You’re a sad, unimaginative woman, Suzanna,” I say, looking down my nose at her from my extra inch of height. But it wouldn’t matter if I was down on my knees and she was on a pedestal high above me - this woman will never be my equal. “Even your mates are interchangeable.” I look at Lee, who’s finally struggling to his feet – unaided – and mimic her pointed finger. “Talk about running off with my sloppy seconds.”
“You little bitch! If you think you can talk to me like that…” Suzanna’s words falter suddenly, her gaze locked on my hand. The flare of avarice in her eyes would be kind of amusing if it wasn’t trained on the opal ring Corbus gave me. “What are you wearing?”
“Looks like the newest Janssen Jewel,” a helpful voice says behind me, and I turn to see Grace Rose smiling at me on the arm of the most dominant alpha I’ve ever seen. It only takes my stunned brain a moment to connect the dots and realize that he’s Garth Rose, the CEO of the House of Omega. He’s as big as Bram, with steely dark eyes and a formidable jaw, and although he’s dressed in an exquisite pinstripe suit, there’s no missing the aura of power that surrounds him. Of course, Grace gives him a smile like he’s the world’s biggest teddy bear and says, “Garth, this is Kate Valentine who I’ve been telling you about. She’s a fabulous designer who’s just opened her own fashion salon next to Paragon.”
Technically, it’sinsidethe Paragon offices, but I’m not about to quibble, especially when Lee’s head snaps my way so fast,he probably gives himself whiplash to go along with his broken nose. I take great pleasure in ignoring him as I focus on shaking Garth’s hand. Because this isGarth Rose, the legend who turned his great-grandfather’s Brooklyn business into the most desirable luxury goods brand in the world.
