Page 116 of Unleashed By Eden

The plane door hisses open, and I’m on my feet.

I need space. A few seconds when no one’s hovering like I’m about to decorate the bulkhead with my brains.

Chris has been attached to my hip since LA. Ripped a bottle of scotch out of my hand before we even left the hotel press conference. Wouldn’t even let me take a piss without security breathing down the door.

What did he think I was going to do, hang myself with a hand towel?

I’m pissed off. I’m not suicidal.

I haven’t craved a drink since Singapore. Then LA happened, and she got dumped on the other side of the world to choke on this mess without me. That’ll make any man reach for a bottle to dull the senses.

My boots hit the metal stairs, then the tarmac. Sunglasses on and a cigarette already between my lips. The air’s cold and wet, New York already numbing my fingers. Home sweet fucking home.

Behind me, the guys clatter down. Low voices, bags shuffling. Everyone pretending they’re not watching me while very much watching me.

We hit the private terminal doors.

Something moves at the corner of my vision.

Then pain explodes across my cheekbone.

My head snaps sideways. Sunglasses go flying. Cigarette disappears. My vision turns snow white before polished stone rushes up.

Before I can suck in a breath, there’s a whole body on me, heavy and furious, dragging me down by my leather jacket and slamming me against the floor.

“You fucked my sister, you fucking prick!”

Liam’s red face crowds my view, eyes wild, full of fury. Spit hits my skin when he shouts. His hands bunch my lapels, and he shakes me hard making my skull crack against the tiles.

Behind him, everything goes loud at once.

“Whoa—Liam—”

“Jesus, fuck—”

“Kai, get his arm—Theo, move—”

Airport security moves in, hands on radios, but Chris throws an arm out without even looking at them.

“We’ve got it,” he snaps. “Back off.”

They move away but keep watching. Same with the rest of the crew and my personal security spilling through the doors, the whole traveling circus. Exactly how I wanted to do this: beaten on the floor with the entire tour getting a front-row seat to my personal crap.

“She has had a crush on you her ENTIRE LIFE,” Liam roars in my face. “It was fucking obvious to everyone. Then one day, she couldn’t stand to hear your name. You broke her, Carter. She built herself back up from nothing and you—”

He slams me again. My teeth clack.

“—you fucking ruined her all over again. These photos?” His grip tightens, shaking. “You’re a piece of shit.”

My cheek is on fire. Copper spreads across my tongue.

What the fuck does he think happened?

My fury bares its teeth and bolts.

“It’s not like that.” I snarl and spit blood on the floor. “What the fuck are you talking about?!”

The terminal suddenly slants sideways. He must’ve got me twice; my jaw and lip are throbbing in time with my pulse.