He cursed behind me. “You’ve got so much anger in you.”

“No shit, Sherlock.” As I headed up the stairs, I gave him a mock-salute. “That’s what happens watching my dad bring home woman after woman and watching Mom cry about it every night. You ruined this family. You, Dad, and it was because of women like that.” I stopped. Rage and pain were in me, like always. Fuck. Would it ever leave? I was starting to think I’d never be normal. “I know Mom wasn’t perfect, but she didn’t cheat on you. She was here. She was in the house. That’s a lot more than you. You were off working or with those women. You weren’t around to be her husband, to be my father, and certainly not Logan’s father—” I stopped myself, my chest was tight. “This shit’s been going on forever.” Another laugh came from me, but this one was hollow. I flinched, hearing it myself and went to my room. It was pointless. He’d never care.

I couldn’t hear the door close from my room, but I went to the window. His car left the driveway a moment later, but she turned around as he drove away. She must have known where my room was because she saw me. There was no reaction on her face, but I listened to my gut. This one was going to be a problem.

15

KATE AND THE COPS

Kate was sprawled over me and she grinned, panting slightly. “So, that was amazing.”

I grunted. This was my last time with Kate. She was done after this. I had wrestled with myself when she was hurting Marissa. I hadn’t done enough, but I was going to do something now. Lifting my leg up, I started to push her off of me. I wasn’t rough, but it wasn’t a gentle shove either. Kate complied and laid beside me on the bed. She grabbed for one of the blankets and wrapped it around her chest, tucking it under her arms. Running a hand through her hair, she gave me another lopsided grin. Then she sighed and turned on her side, facing me.

I ignored her and reached for my phone. This was coming to an end.

“Are you expecting a call?” Anger stirred in her tone. “Another girl?”

I sighed. “Stop, Kate. It makes you look pathetic.”

She laughed, it was harsh and biting. “Are you kidding me?”

I sent a text to Logan. Where are you? Then I glanced at Kate. “We’re friends and we screw. That’s it.”

“You’re an ass**le.”

“That’s already been established.” I pointed to the door. “I’ve told you enough times you’re not my girlfriend. Maybe it’s time you finally start accepting that.”

A strangled scream ripped from her throat, but she squashed it right away and scrambled off the bed. When she was dressed, she stood there and glared. I waited, trying not to laugh. Her hands were balled into fists and she had crazy eyes. Then I couldn’t stop myself. I grinned at her and asked, “Planning my murder?” She would be in a few hours. I knew that much.

“Yes.” Her eyes flashed with rage. “So far I have a shovel, rope, and a knife in mind.”

I laughed. “That’s weak. Plan a better one.”

She rolled with it and leaned back on her heels, crossing her arms over her chest. The rage dimmed, but it was still there. The craziness faded too. That’s what always worried me. Kate had it in her to go nuts. She was the toughest chick I knew. Some of the things she could come up with amazed me. I hadn’t met another girl who thought like she did.

She said, “I would drug you because I can’t overpower you. Then I’d have my way with you one last time before rolling you in plastic and burying you alive.”

I flashed her a grin. “As long as I went happy.”

She snorted, rolling her eyes. “Why are you such an ass**le and so freaking hot at the same time?”

“Kate, I’m hot because I’m an ass**le. You girls are stupid.”

“No.” She shook her head, her eyes darkening from lust as she looked me up and down. A slow grin curved at the corner of her mouth again. “You’re hot anyway. You could have a dork personality and you’d still be hot. You being an ass**le just makes you even hotter, that’s all.” She groaned, raking her hands through her hair before letting them fall back down. “You drive me crazy.”

My phone buzzed at that moment. It was from Logan, With a girl. Eating.

I frowned.

Kate asked, “Who was that?”

“Logan.” Sitting up, I typed back, Where?

The Chinese buffet.

”What’s he saying?”

I responded to him, Where are you going after that?

Why?

I want to know.

”Mason.” Kate snapped her fingers to get my attention. She waved at me. “Hello. Person here. Talking. It’s rude to ignore.”

I ignored her and typed to Logan, Done with Kate. Up for being crazy tonight.

Done? Giving her the boot?

Yeah. She’s planning to kill me. I need to do something crazy tonight.

Good. I’m in. Tell me where and I’m there.

”Asshole,” Kate barked at me. Then she lunged at me, reaching for my phone, but I’d been waiting for her to react. Wrapping my arm around her waist, I ducked to avoid her fist when she tried to hit me, and threw her on the other side of the bed. She gasped, but I heard the excitement and felt her body stiffen. She was going to lunge for me again so I laid down on her. When she was completely underneath me and couldn’t do a thing, she tried wiggling out. She couldn’t. Then a hoarse gasp came from her, but she was already softening. It’d take another moment before she’d be turned on. A small moan came next and I grinned, but pulled my phone back out. I typed to Logan, One more time and then I’ll drop Kate at home and pick you up. Be ready in an hour. Then I tossed my phone on the ground and looked down at her.

She was already breathing heavy. The lust was unmistakable in her gaze. “Are you going to do something or not?”

“Are you baiting me now?” I grinned at her.

She groaned, biting down on her bottom lip. Then she pushed up against me. Her legs tried to slip out, and she began rubbing against me. She hadn’t fastened her pants and I reached in them. She was already wet. Her arms were still squished by me, but she pulled them up. As I lifted up, her arms and legs wound around me. She pulled me back down and then began doing all the work.

I rolled us over so she was on top me. This was why I indulged in Kate. She was tough. She was a spitfire, but she was always down for whatever I wanted, whether I did all the work or she did, like today. I closed my eyes when she bent down and felt her mouth close over me.