“Because of her.”
“Because I didn’t know what I wanted.”
Josie made the smallest sound. Pain. Not physical.
The other kind.
I wanted to go to her and tell her every word out of my mouth was a lie. Instead I kept my eyes on Brandi.
“She’s trash,” Brandi said.
My jaw flexed. I covered it by rubbing a hand over my beard. “You’re angry.”
“She doesn’t deserve you.”
“Maybe not.”
Brandi smiled.
Josie’s eyes filled. Fuck.
I took another step, then another.
I was halfway to them now, and Brandi didn’t notice. She was too busy hearing what she wanted.
“You know I was always better for you,” she said.
“Yeah?” I asked.
“Yeah.” She nodded quickly. “I know you. I know the club. I fit.”
“You do know the club.”
“I do,” she preened, turning toward me a bit more. The knife had shifted to where it wasn’t pressed to Josie’s neck anymore.
Josie was breathing shallowly, and I could see her hands trembling.
“Tell me what you want,” I said.
Brandi blinked. “You.”
“Then come here.”
She stared as I held out one hand with my palm up. Controlled. “Come here, Brandi.”
Josie’s eyes went wide.
I didn’t look at her.
Brandi hesitated. Her fingers tightened around the knife again. “I know what you’re doing.”
“I’m not doing anything,” I tried to reason.
“You’re trying to trick me.”
“I’m trying to get you away from her.” The truth slipped out before I could stop it.
Brandi’s face twisted, and all the progress I had made disappeared.
