Page 153 of Pucked Around and Found Out

“Instead of what?” I ask, and something dangerous edges into my voice.

“Instead of actually being the man she deserves,” Carnage finishes.

Silence.

Heavy. Loaded.

“You think you could be that man?” I ask quietly. “Is that it? You want to be the one she wants?”

“This isn't about me⁠—”

“The fuck it isn't,” I hiss, standing. “You think I don't know? Think I didn't see that surveillance footage Fiona showed me?”

Carnage goes very still.

“What footage?”

“You trying to fuck my girl on the sofa.” I say, moving closer. “In the living room.”

“I didn't,” Carnage says, his voice hard.

“Only because she pulled back,” I snarl. “Not because you showed restraint. You wanted to. You wanted to take what's mine.”

“She's not a possession⁠—”

“She's mine,” I cut him off. “And you don't get to touch her. Don't get to⁠—”

“What?” Carnage challenges, stepping forward until we're inches apart. “Care about her? Want her to be happy? Give her the comfort you refuse to? Yeah, I wanted to kiss her, Devlin. And you know what? For about three seconds, she wanted it too.”

The words hit like a knife to the gut.

“But she pulled back,” Carnage continues, his voice dropping. “She chose you. Even though you're poison. Even though you keep hurting her. Even though I would actually be there for her. Care about her the way she deserves and never make her suffer or wonder her worth. She still chose you.”

He leans in slightly.

“So maybe instead of threatening me, you should ask yourself why. Why would she choose the man who destroys her over the one who would protect and love her better than you?”

“Because she loves me,” I force out.

“Yeah,” Carnage agrees. “She does. For some fucked up reason, she loves you. And that's the only reason you're not dead right now. Because killing you would hurt her.”

I grab him by the shirt, slamming him against the wall.

Monitors start beeping frantically.

“You ever try that again—” I start.

“I didn't try anything,” Carnage says coldly, not even fighting back. “She was crying. I comforted her. And for one moment—one single fucking moment—we both forgot ourselves. But she remembered. She remembered you. And she pulled back.”

He meets my eyes.

“What I won't do is apologize for caring about her. For being there when you weren't. For holding her while she broke down over the shit you put her through.”

I release him, stepping back.

My hands are shaking from rage, from fear, from something I can't name.

“This doesn't change anything,” Carnage says, straightening his shirt. “I'll still protect her. Still be there when she needs someone. But I won't cross that line again unless she asks me to. Because, unlike you, I respect her enough to let her make her own choices.”