Page 96 of Toxic Kiss

They share a confused glance.

“No to what,” Mom asks.

“No, you will not fire Haven. No, you won’t give her just half the tour. She’ll finish at least the tour before you move her up in the company, and it sure as hell won’t be for a lower position.”

I step closer, locking eyes with my mother.

“No, Haven is not the reason I spiraled years ago. She is the only reason I didn’t do it sooner. Ending up in the hospital now didn’t have anything to do with her. My actions are my own and no one else’s.”

I step closer and lower my voice.

“I’m tired of you trying to mess with Haven. I let you do it for years because I was a prick, but I won’t let you do it anymore. I warned you what would happen if you tried to interfere again, mother. This is the third time, and I’m done.”

“Cyrus, you can’t do this,” Mom whines.

Pulling out my phone, I send Brett a quick text, and a minute later, he emerges from the suite at the end of the hall.

“Brett, escort my mother off the premises and make sure that all the guards know that she is not welcome anywhere near us, our equipment, our hotel rooms, nothing. She is officially unwelcome. Have her arrested if you must.”

Mom’s mouth falls open.

“But…Cyrus…please.”

Brett takes a step toward her as I turn my back on them and head for the door.

“Auguste, do something.”

“Sorry, Anita, this is between you and Cyrus,” he says, and it is the first time I’m completely in agreement with the man.

Mom grabs my arm before I can walk into the penthouse.

“Cyrus, don’t you dare do this to me.”

I glare at her hand, and she immediately lets go.

“You did this to yourself.”

She is still trying to negotiate with me as I step through the door. Turning, I slam it in her face.

No one, not even my mother, is fucking hurting Haven again.

HAVEN

It’s quiet when I finally sneak into the suite. I park myself at the edge of the penthouse pool, feet dangling in the water. The lights shimmer around me, and my thoughts twist like a knife.

Tears sting my eyes as the accumulation of the last few days collides in my brain.

“Hey.”

I jerk and quickly wipe away the tears before I turn and look over my shoulder.

Cy is every bit the rock star. Bare feet, ripped jeans, and a white t-shirt. But he also looks concerned, and that expression guts me.

“You okay?”

“I’m fine.”

Cy sits beside me and puts his feet in the water.