“I wanted coffee. So here I am,” he said, shrugging.
Anna rolled her eyes as Tatiana scoffed and fiddled around with her phone. Her gaze met mine before quickly glancing away.
I frowned. “Who did you text, T?”
“No one.” She looked at Anna. Anna’s eyes drifted down to her phone, her cheeks flushing when they popped up to meet mine.
“Tatiana,” I said, my voice firm.
She looked back at me. “I didn’t text,” she glanced away again. “anyone.”
My heart raced and I reached for her phone, quickly grabbing it before she had a chance to react. I swiped my fingers across the small screen while ignoring her protests. My stomach sunk. “You texted Kane?”
Stefan chuckled. “And here I thought my night was going to be boring.”
I threw the phone on the table.
“I’m sorry, Ev,” she said, her voice small.
Kane would tell Brett that Stefan was here and then Brett would definitely show up. I loved him, with all of my heart and more but his jealousy was going to get him into trouble. Why the hell did no one see that but me?
“Evvie, why don’t we go back to your apartment?” Anna offered.
“Yes, Evvie, why don’t we do that?” Stefan suggested, licking his lips.
My stomach cringed at the innuendo that rolled off of his tongue.
I ignored the girls and watched for the door. Under normal circumstances, it wouldn’t be a big deal if Brett showed up. But Stefan was here. He had caused enough problems in Mexico. Brett had just finally gotten over the whole issue with Nick. Everything was starting to feel…normal. For us anyways. Anna moved out, Claire disappeared, and his mother hadn’t tried contacting him again. It was the calm before the storm, we both knew that, but took advantage of the peace and quiet anyways.
“You shouldn’t be with a guy that’s so jealous, Evvie.”
My gaze slowly glanced at Stefan. “What would you know about the guy that I’m with?”
Stefan smirked. “I know more about Brett MacLean than you think, darling.”
My stomach clenched. “What the hell are you talking about?”
He grinned. “Let’s just say that we have a mutual friend and I’ve heard all the juicy details about that man of yours.”
“Please. The only one that knows the true Brett MacLean is my girl,” Tatiana scoffed.
“I’m not going to sit here defending my relationship with Brett to you or anyone else for that matter,” I snapped. My blood boiled. At that point, I came to the conclusion that I couldn’t stand Stefan. So much for me being nice. He was going to get the full wrath of the Neal family way if he didn’t watch out.
“Oh? Is that so? How were those pictures that I sent you, Evvie? Did you get a good look at your boyfriend fucking Claire?”
A mutual gasp erupted between Anna and Tatiana.
I stared him, my mouth set in a firm line. I wouldn’t let him know that he got to me but I wasn’t Brett, I didn’t have a poker face. My emotions showed in my eyes and I couldn’t change that. “What happened before me is none of my business.”
Stefan looked at me hard. “Hmm…guess I thought you would have reacted differently.”
I did. When I got the pictures. Now that I knew who they came from… “How the hell did you get those pictures?”
He grinned. “A little slow are we?”
“Answer me,” I demanded.
“Like I said, Brett and I have a mutual friend.”
I swallowed hard. Claire.
“I see the light bulb turned on this time.” He laughed.
Tatiana slammed her cup on the table. “That’s it. Listen asshole, whatever you want with Evvie—”
“No, you listen, bitch. This has nothing to do with you.”
“What the hell do you want?” I demanded.
Stefan grinned. “You’ll see. In time.”
Chewing my cheek, I waited. Anxiety swirled deep in the pit of my belly. Screw it. “Tatiana, Anna, I’ll see you later.” I couldn’t sit there anymore. I rose to my feet and headed out of the small coffee shop. Just as I rounded the corner, I bumped into a hard body.
An arm reached out, stopping my fall.
I looked up into deep blue eyes that had captivated me from the very start. “Brett.”
He smirked and cupped my cheek. Rubbing his thumb along my bottom lip, he placed a hard kiss on my mouth. “Where do you think you’re going, lover?”
I took a breath. “I…I was going to see you.”
Brett leaned down and brushed his nose along the side of my neck, inhaling deep. “I want coffee.”
“Brett…” He was lying. He wanted to see Stefan and pound his face in. I could tell by the cold look in his eyes. “Take me home.”
“Hmm…home,” he purred.
My heart soared. “Please. I don’t want anything to happen.”
He nibbled my palm and kissed the band on my ring finger. “What do you think would happen?”
“I think you’ll end up punching Stefan in the face…” I frowned as Brett’s gaze turned icy cold.
“Stefan? That fucker from Mexico is here?”
My heart dropped. “Yes. I thought that’s why you’re here.”
“No. I came to see you. Tatiana texted Kane and he told me to meet you here but no one mentioned Stefan,” he said, his voice rising.
Shit. “Okay, well…” I swallowed. “Take me home.”
A wicked grin spread on Brett’s face before he grabbed my hand and pulled me back into the coffee shop. “We don’t want to be rude, Evvie. Let’s say hi to our dear old friend.”
My heart raced, thumping hard against my rib cage. “Brett, please, just take me home.”
His hand wrapped around my neck and he leaned down to my ear. “I will, but right now, I’m going to remind Stefan, who you belong to.”
“Brett,” I cried and grabbed his arm, stopping him. “He knows Claire.”
Brett paused in his steps and turned back to me. “He does?”
I nodded. “He’s the one that sent those pictures of the both of you to me.”
His jaw clenched, his eyes turning black. “Now we definitely have to say hi.”
I frowned and followed behind Brett as he led us back to the table where Tatiana, Anna and Stefan were still sitting. All three of them looked up as we neared it. Tatiana’s eyes widened and Stefan sneered. Anna chewed her bottom lip, brushing a dark strand of hair behind her ear.
“Well well well. Now isn’t this interesting?” Stefan said, rubbing his chin.
Brett grunted and held me tight beside him, practically placing me on his lap.
“Um…we should go.” Tatiana grabbed her stuff.
Anna nodded. They both gave me hugs.
“Whatever happens, Brett loves you,” Anna whispered in my ear and headed out the door before I could protest. I stared after her. I knew Brett loved me. It was the one thing that I was certain of.
Now that he knew who was responsible for the pictures, I didn’t blame him for being furious.
I didn’t know what Brett had in mind when it came to showing Stefan who I belonged to. I knew how he showed me in the past but it was unlikely he was going to have sex with me in public. Even though he had threatened it several times before.
The jealousy that Brett had, took over sometimes. I wasn’t even sure if he was aware of it. He needed to not worry and trust me. Trust in the fact that there was no one else for me. That he was it.
As I sat there watching the guys have a macho he-man stare down, my stomach clenched and twisted. Anxiety swirled deep in my belly. If Brett wasn’t careful, his jealousy would get the best of him or worse. It would destroy what we had worked so hard at getting back.
THIRTEEN
After sitting for what felt like forever in uncomfortable silence, my nerves got the better of me and I couldn’t take it anymore. “Stefan, what do you want?”
Stefan smirked and rubbed his chin. “Now what make
s you think that I want something?”
I rolled my eyes. “I told Brett about the pictures.”
“I know. That’s why I told you about them in the first place.” Stefan shrugged.
Brett stiffened beside me and grabbed my hand. “You hassled us on the plane, in Mexico, and now here. What the hell is your deal, fucker?”
“Paranoid? Worried I’ll take your girl, Brett?” Stefan laughed.
My stomach twisted.
“That’ll never happen, asshole,” Brett growled.
“Brett, we should go. He’s clearly not going to tell us what he wants.” I rose to my feet when my hand was tugged.
“Sit,” Brett demanded.
I sat back down and huffed.
“You going to let him boss you around like that, Evvie?” Stefan frowned. “If you were mine—”
“Well, she isn’t. So shut the fuck up.” Brett gripped my hand tight.
I looked between the both of them, my heart thumping hard against my ribs. “Okay, this needs to stop. I don’t know what your problem is, Stefan, but—”
“The problem is Claire.”
“Claire. What does she have to do with this?” She had left us alone. I didn’t know if that was good or bad but neither of us had heard from her since Brett’s birthday party. I made a mental note to call Ethan and asked him if he talked to her.
“She hired me to send you those pictures and I haven’t been fucking paid. I want my money and then this will all go away.”
My heart sped up and I looked at Brett.
“I’ll pay you. How much?” he barked.
Stefan rubbed his chin. “1 million.”
I gasped. “You can’t be serious.”
“I don’t have that kind of money,” Brett ground out. “Even if I did, that’s a lot of cash to be handing over to someone who could be lying.”
“Either way, I will get my money.” Stefan rose to his feet. “You should also know that she hired me to go to Mexico. I wasn’t there on vacation. I was paid to watch you and report back to her.”
“Why the hell are you telling us this?” Brett snapped.
I couldn’t believe my ears. Shock tore through me at what I was hearing.
Stefan shrugged. “She fucked me over.”
Brett grunted. “She does that.”
Bile rose to my throat.
“Get me my money,” Stefan demanded.
“Get me proof and I’ll see what I can do but I’m not giving you a million dollars.” Brett sat back and casually spun my ring around and around on my finger.
“You better—”
“If you want the issue with Claire gone, you will take what I give you once you get me the proof that I need. Until then, leave me and my girlfriend alone.” Brett’s voice was firm as he stared at Stefan head on.
Stefan stood up and stretched. “One last thing, you need to treat her better.”
I gasped.
Brett shot to his feet. “Listen, mother—”
“No, you listen to me, asshole.”
“As if you’re here telling me how to treat my girl. You just asked me for a million dollars,” Brett said, his jaw twitching.
Stefan pushed him. “Paranoid, Brett?”
“Guys, stop. Please,” I said, shoving between them.
“Not on your fucking life, asshole,” Brett snarled.
“Stop. Now. Both of you,” I cried.
“Yeah, Brett. Listen to your whore. Claire was right about one thing, she is a little slut.”
I gasped and before I knew what was happening, Brett dove at Stefan, knocking him to the ground. His fist flew so fast against Stefan’s face, bones crunched under the contact.
“Brett,” I screamed and grabbed his shoulders. With all of my strength, I pulled him off of Stefan, landing hard on my ass.
“Fuck, you broke my nose,” Stefan said, sniffing past the blood pouring out of his nose.
“Get out, now,” a deep voice barked.
We all looked up as a large man came into view wearing a shirt uniform for the coffee shop.
Brett stiffened in my arms. “I’ll pay for the damage—”
“Not you. Him,” he pointed at Stefan.
Stefan glared. “What the hell?”
“I heard what you said about this young lady. You’re lucky she’s not mine or else I wouldn’t have let her pull me off of you,” the older man snarled.
Stefan rose to his feet and wavered. “You can’t make me leave.”
The man took a step towards him. “No? Try me.”
Stefan looked between the three of us before his gaze landed on Brett. “I hope Claire makes your life a living a hell.”
My eyes widened.
“The name’s Sam,” the larger man stated as Stefan left the small café shop.
“Thank you, Sam,” I mumbled and rose to my feet before sitting on the couch.
Brett joined me and rubbed his red knuckles. “I am sorry about the damage.”
Sam’s chocolate brown eyes warmed. “No need. The damage already left. How about some ice for that hand?”
Brett nodded and wrapped an arm around my shoulders. “I’m sorry.”
I sighed. “Are you okay?”
He smiled. “I am now. Shit. Mathis will hear about this.”
“Here.” Sam placed an ice pack in my hand and smiled before heading back behind the counter.
I held it against Brett’s knuckles when his phone rang.
He huffed and cringed when he looked at the screen.
“Let me.”
Brett’s jaw tensed.
“Trust me,” I said sweetly.
“I don’t need you doing my dirty work, Evvie,” he said, his voice hard.
I rolled my eyes and snatched the phone from his hand before snuggling into his side. Pressing the talk button, I held it to my ear and waited.
“Brett, you stupid mother…”
I almost laughed at the string of very colorful profanity that left Mathis’ lips. His slight European accent became more pronounced when he was pissed. It was kind of adorable. I would never tell him that though.
“Mathis?”
His cursing stopped and he took a breath. “Why, hello, beautiful.”
I smiled. “Bad night?”
“That man of yours is going to give me an ulcer. I’m too young for this level of stress.”
“Baby, what’s wrong?”
I frowned when I heard a woman’s voice come through the phone.
“Nothing, love. Go back to bed.”
Shock tore through me at the softness in his voice.
Brett noticed my reaction, his eyebrow raising.
Mathis Verlinden had a sweet side to him? He had been nice to me but that was only because he wanted something. “Mathis?”
“Yeah.”
“Who was that?” I asked, with a teasing lilt to my voice.
He cleared his throat. “My wife.”
I gasped. “Excuse me?”
Mathis huffed. “Why is everyone so damn surprised?”
“It’s you. I just saw you a couple of weeks ago. You’re married?”
Brett’s head whipped around. Clearly, he was surprised as well.
“Yeah, well it was kind of sudden but I wouldn’t change it for the fucking world. Now stop trying to change the subject,” Mathis demanded.
“I need to meet this woman,” I said, curling my feet under me.
“She would like you…wait, Evvie, put Brett on the fucking phone.”
I laughed and handed Brett the phone all the while Mathis complained in the background about women and distractions.
Brett grinned and winked at me. “So who’s the pussy now?” He laughed. “Yeah…I wasn’t expecting you to find out so soon. I don’t know…Claire…yeah…”
My stomach twisted at the mere mention of her name. Stefan knowing Claire made things a whole lot more interesting.
“I don’t care what your sister in-law wants…I…” Brett breathed a hea
vy sigh. “I know. Stefan demanded a million dollars.”
I leaned my head against his shoulder and held the ice against his knuckles. He punched Stefan for me. Because he called me a whore. My stomach twisted. What would have happened if I wouldn’t have been able to get Brett off of him?
I listened as Brett explained what had happened and what Stefan was after. And the pictures. The pictures that almost destroyed our relationship. I forced the images to the back of my mind, swallowing past the lump in my throat.
“We can fly out whenever is good for you, my man. Company jet?”
I looked up at Brett.
“Two weeks? We’ll be there.” Brett hung up the phone and stood up. “Mathis wants us in Vegas to help promote his club, Club Maroon, at the end of the month.”
“Us?” I asked, letting him pull me to my feet.
Brett pinched my chin and tilted my head before placing a soft kiss on my mouth and forehead. “He knows now that where I go, you go. It’s either both of us or nothing at all.” His gaze darkened. “We can join the Mile High club, lover.”
My body vibrated.
“Imagine me fucking you, 35,000 feet in the air,” he purred against the side of my neck.
“Okay,” I breathed. I couldn’t control it. The thought of him between my legs, up in the air, giving us what we both desired, sent a thrill down my spine.
I had never been to Vegas and I would get to meet the woman that captured Mathis’ heart. It was funny. I hadn’t known Mathis for long but he reminded me so much of Brett, it was unreal. I wondered if Mathis was just as possessive. I bit back a scoff. No one could be as possessive as Brett. He took that word to a whole other level and even though at first I fought it, now, I craved it. I needed the sense of being possessed by him. Without that? Without that all-consuming need? There was nothing.
FOURTEEN
The next morning, I woke, stretched and groaned. My body hurt in places I never knew existed before meeting Brett. You’d think after all of this time, I would be used to it.
Brett, of course, was not beside me. The guy worked way too much. Since we had the Vegas trip in two weeks, he needed to get the benefit under way, which was tonight.
Revealed by You Page 13
