Page 69 of Nothing Special X: The Last Stand

He jerked back hard enough to hit his shoulder on the doorframe, slapping his hand to his chest.

Syn was sitting at the breakfast counter…in the dark.

He hadn’t moved when the light came on. Hadn’t blinked. Hadn’t said a word.

He sat with both forearms braced on the counter, shoulders squared, spine rigid, his expression set in flat stillness.

His black and gray hair was a mess, as if he’d been dragging his fingers through it until he no longer cared how it looked.

His jaw was locked so tight the muscles above his cheek ticced. Those dark eyes blazed like burnt onyx in his direction.

A laptop was open in front of him, its screen black and dead.

Furi’s heart stopped. He was too late.

“Corbin,” Furi started, voice low and hesitant.

He took a couple of steps forward and halted when Syn stabbed a key on the laptop.

Illustra’s website was already open to his page. The banner scrolled across the top with his name in bold lettering beneath the headline Mack had plastered everywhere like a damn victory flag.

HE’S BACK!!!

Furi stared at the screen for a heartbeat, then at Syn, and whatever courage he’d left with from the bar, thinned to almost nothing.

Syn was too calm, however, his glare betrayed him.

It wasn’t wild or crazed…it was focused.

Syn continued to stare at the screen for a long, silent moment, then raised his brows and nodded once as if he’d reached some conclusion.

“That’s beautiful work, Furi,” he said dryly. His voice stripped of warmth. “Really. Quite an impressive performance.”

Furi didn’t say thank you. The work probably was beautiful, but Syn’s remark wasn’t a compliment.

It was pain wrapped in a suit of defensive armor.

“Did you read the comments?” Syn asked.

Furi’s stomach dropped.

“No.”

Syn finally glared at him. “No?”

Furi shook his head once.

“Let me enlighten you.”

Syn cast his gaze back to the screen, his voice even.

“‘Furious needs to open an OnlyFans. I’d pay stupid money for a taste of that.’” Syn scrolled again. “‘How much for a private showing? Name the price. I’ll buy the whole night.’” Another scroll. His jaw flexed. “‘Damn, so glad he dropped that ball and chain and came back where he belongs.’”

Furi closed his eyes.

Syn kept going.

“Here’s another one.” His tone colder. “‘Whoever had him locked down was holding back a national treasure. Welcome back, king.’” Syn gave a short, ugly chuckle. “These are my favorites. ‘Hope Furious stays single this time. He doesn’t need another insecure jealous boyfriend.’ ‘Tell whoever had him playing house that fun time is over. Furious belongs to us now.’”