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Too many goddamn drawers full of useless shit later, I find a thin metal tool that resembles the one in the video and use it to test all the tires’ air pressure. Of course the one I filled is off. Of fucking course.

Needing a release so I don’t explode, I point out, “You don’t think she’s gonna notice when none of her tires are new? Because to me, it’s pretty fucking obvious.”

The man I share genes with gives another one of his stupid fucking shrugs. “Take your own advice. Give her something else to focus on.”

The rage swirling inside me causes my hands to shake. That advice was for him to keep his cunt of a wife off Kota’s back.

“Is that it? I just…fuck the girl so she won’t see—”

“Boy, don’t act like she ain’t already pickling your dick.”

“Don’t talk about her like that,” I snap.

“Mm. So when I said create a wedge, you thought I meant between those creamy, little thigh—”

My growl, along with a menacing step in his direction, shuts him right the fuck up.

One of his unkempt eyebrows lifts at the thinly veiled threat, and a moment passes where we stare at each other in charged silence.

“If her mother catches wind—”

“Kota doesn’t even want her mom to know.”

“I agree, it’d be best for all parties involved if she didn’t.”

I scoff. “You’re looking out for Kota, are you?”

“She is my stepdaughter.”

“She’s nothing to you.”

“She’s something to you.” His gaze travels over me accusingly.

Yes the fuck she is.

“She’s off-limits.”

“For this?” He gestures to the Lexus.

“For everything.” And I leave it at that, knowing damn well if I start listing specifics, shit’ll get real ugly, real fast.

“You callin’ the shots now?”

“Just the ones that concern her.”

I think he’s going to push it, push me, but fortunately, he backs off, raising his hands in a show of innocence I know for a fact he does not possess an ounce of.

I don’t take my eyes off him as he heads for the door.

Before opening it, he pauses to say, “In case it wasn’t obvious, lust is the strongest intoxicant of all. No one’s easier to manipulate than a person in lust.”

“I wouldn’t do that to Kota.”

Looking over his shoulder, he meets my gaze. “It’s not her I’m worried about.”

I frown. Kota’s not manipulating me into shit. She’s the one pulling back, trying to make me do less. She didn’t even want me to fix her goddamn tire.

“Make decisions based on where your loyalty lies, not where your dick does.”