“I finally see the family resemblance,” Thad says, humor lacing his tone.
“What?” I mutter, eyes locked on her.
“Grab a mirror,” Thad laughs.
“You couldn’t look more like Graham right now if you tried,” Maverick adds.
“Notice how familiar that little vein in his head is? Who knew veins were genetic?”
“Everyone, dumbass,” I growl. “And I don’t look like Graham.”
But I know I do. I can feel it in my marrow. A strange obsession, gripping my mind in a vise, demanding I take action. It’s unhinged and manic.
“I’ve been on the other end of that expression, remember?” Maverick adds. My cheek twitches as I turn my attention toward them for a brief moment, finding two pairs of eyes, highly amused and extremely curious, watching me. “How do you know her?”
“I don’t,” I lie because technically I’m not supposed to. Thad makes a disbelieving sound, and Maverick lifts a brow.
“Then why are you acting like a wolf, ready to take down the pack for sniffing too close?”
“I’m not.”
Coming here is the worst idea I’ve ever had because I’m about to eat my words when I see a guy rise from his seat andwalk toward the stage. His beckoning finger waves in the air. She fuckingsmilesat him as she walks to the end of the stage, and he tucks a few bills into her G-string, then brushes his fingers over her bare ass.
I know I have no right.
She’s not mine.
She doesn’t want to be.
And I shouldn’t want her.
So many reasons not to do this.
To stay in my seat.
To pretend it doesn’t matter.
Fuck the reasons and fuck pretending.
Instead, I’m out of my seat, and I’ve closed the distance between the stage and me. I grab the guy by his expensive suit, pulling him away from the stage. Anger flashes in his eyes, but before he can say a word, my fist lands and he flies backward, eyes rolled back in his head.Pathetic little bitch.I’m walking toward him, ready to inflict more pain, when I hear my name.
“Jagger!” My eyes snap to her. Hazel eyes reflect everything I’ve tried to bury. “Have you lost your mind?”
“It would seem so,” I growl, pulling her by the ankle to the edge of the stage, then tossing her over my shoulder.
“Doesn’t know her, my ass,” Thad mutters.
I turn around, making my way to the private rooms in the back.
And just like that, everyone knows I’ve lost it.
Jagger
Supposedly there are seven deadly sins, and I struggle with most of them. Though jealousy and I have a complicated relationship, I never considered it my biggest flaw. Until now—this moment when it’s turned into a maniacal obsession. A consuming need to take what I want. To possess at any cost.
In a fucking week, I’ve gone from interested but wary—I have thought of Casey, believe it or not—to fucking feral and unhinged over a girl I shouldn’t want. A complicated mess that promises drama within our messy families. Disappointment and pain for our sisters. And she deserves so much fucking better than any bullshit I have to offer.
But it seems my subconscious made the selfish decision.
