My head was foggy with whiskey, and my heart was breaking with Avery’s betrayal. Yet I hadn’t confronted her about the tracker, nor did I question her about whether or not she was working with the FBI. Because the truth was, I didn’t want to deal with any of it, knowing that it would only further complicate our relationship when I’d only just gotten her back.
And maybe, just maybe, I was hoping she’d come clean and tell me the truth, since that would at least soften the blow of her betrayal.
Any excuse to not have to walk away from her.
“I fucking love you, Avery...” I wrapped my arm around her waist and cupped the back of her neck as I caught her mouth in a kiss, desperate to hold onto what we had—unless, of course, this was all a lie for her, and she figured this was the perfect way to take down Stubbs.
Was that it then? That she had just pretended to have feelings for me once again, because I was suddenly of use to her? That she’d been using me all along? That she’d finally get her revenge for my betrayal?
“I love you too, Dane. I know we’ve had our problems...and I’m sure we still have a lot we need to deal with, given our past. But after this past weekend...I know I need you in my life, and I want more than anything to make this work. I can’t bear to lose you.”
There was far more emotion in her voice than I’d have expected to find—unless, of course, she was feeling guilty.
Did that mean she did actually still love me? Or was this just more of an act, and she was trying to save face, so that I wouldn’t hate her?
“Do you really want to make this work, Avery? Because it’d require honesty—on both our parts, and though I know we don’t exactly have a great track record, I want this to be a fresh start.” Even if I was having one hell of a time swallowing down the fact that she’d let me take those plans to Stubbs with a tracker implanted, knowing full well that if Stubbs found it, he’d come after me and my family. And she’d seen what Stubbs was capable of firsthand when he’d gone after Slater, so it’s not like it wasn’t fresh in her memory.
“I swear, there’s nothing going on with me and Huck.” She left it at that, saying nothing more.
“And what about Slater? Is there something I need to know about there?” Might as well put that out in the open while we were at it, since I still had my suspicions.
Her eyes narrowed in confusion and anger as she pulled away from me, shrugging out of my grip. “Please tell me you’re fucking kidding me. Slater? Really?”
I shrugged. Not that I believed anything she was telling me at the moment. “After we split up, you were free to do whatever you wanted, Avery. I had no hold on you.”
“No, you didn’t. But I still wouldn’t hook up with your brother, Dane. That would almost be as bad as you picking up another woman and fucking her with the knowledge that I’d be home—and then continuing to fuck her once I walked in on the two of you. Almost.” Her eyes shimmered with tears that slipped freely down her cheeks, reminding me of just how much I’d hurt her.
“I’m sorry for reading something into your friendship that wasn’t there.” I cupped her face in my hands and wiped away her tears. “You’ve given me no reason not to trust you.”
Except that she had—she just wasn’t admitting to any of it, even if I’d given her plenty of openings to come clean.
“Maybe I should go.” She took a step back away from my touch, her gaze avoiding mine.
“Or maybe you should tell me the truth.” I steeled myself for her answer, knowing there was a good chance she’d pretend that she wasn’t hiding anything. That everything was fine, and she didn’t know what I was talking about.
Instead of moving farther away, she closed the distance between us, looking up at me, her eyes locked on mine. “I’m not sleeping with your brother, Dane—and I’m not sleeping with Huck. They’re just friends of mine. Nothing more.”
“There’s nothing else then?” I brushed her hair from her eyes, my fingers lingering on her skin. Yet she said nothing...the silence hanging between us until I couldn’t take it anymore.
My mouth crashed down on hers as my hands trailed down her back to her ass and pulled her to me, our kiss deepening as I tried to erase everything that had gone wrong between us. I just wanted one last night with her...needed to have her one last time. And then...maybe then I’d be able to let her go. Not that I wanted to.
Yet what other option did I have when she couldn’t be honest with me—especially when she was putting my family in jeopardy. You’d think that she’d tell me, if for no other reason than to allow me the opportunity to warn my family. But she didn’t even have the decency to do that.
Yet before I could drag her off to my bed, she was breaking away from our kiss. “I’m sorry, Dane... I can’t do this.”
I took a deep breath, trying to rein in my anger with this whole situation. “Can’t do what?”
“You’re right. There is something I’m keeping from you.” She chewed her bottom lip even as she blinked back threatening tears. “Don’t suppose I can get a bit of that whiskey first?”
“Yeah...sure.” I got her a glass and poured myself another, needing the fortification.
She took the glass of whiskey from me and took a long sip, making a face as she swallowed down the liquid heat. She didn’t drink much—and certainly not whiskey straight. Just one more thing pointing to just how bad this was. “I don’t even know where to start, Dane...”
“Just fucking say it, Avery.”