“Stay out of this, old man.”

My mouth drops open in shock because this isn’t the Stone I know at all. “Sto—”

His hand tightens around my wrist so hard I nearly wince. However, I force myself to keep it together because I don’t want to make this ordeal any worse. “Shut up, Bianca.”

Oakley takes another step forward until he’s towering over Stone and staring him down like an animal who’s just found its prey. His anger is so palpable it’s practically vibrating throughout me. “Say one more word, motherfucker.” After several long beats go by, he snickers. “That’s what I thought.”

A moment later, he heads inside the apartment complex with his dad and C.J., but not before we hear him mutter, “Little bitch.”

I pry my wrist out of his grasp. “What the hell, Stone?”

He slaps his chest. “That’s what I’m trying to figure out. Why the fuck were you talking to him?”

Given he’s so mad, it’s not the best time to tell him Oakley and I are friends.

Besides, our friendship is my secret.

The one and only thing I have for me.

And as of late, the only thing that gives me a glimmer of light in the darkness that’s starting to suffocate me.

“I saw him walking up to the complex with his little sister, so I stopped to say hello. It’s not a big deal.”

Stone’s eyes nearly pop out of his head. “Not a big deal? He tried to kill you.”

“But—”

“But nothing. Christ almighty, pull your head out of your ass and stop acting so stupid.”

“I’m not stupid.” My next words are out of my mouth so fast, it takes us both by surprise. “And the next time you treat me like I’m trash you can take your ring back and shove it up your ass.”

His expression softens. “I’m sorry, Bourne. I didn’t mean to.”

“Didn’t mean to what?” I hiss. “Call me stupid or tell me to shut up?” I hold up my red wrist. “Or grab my wrist so hard you hurt me?”

He hangs his head. “All of it.” His eyes close and he exhales. “I’m just trying to protect you.”

If that’s the case, he has a real funny way of showing it. “Protect me?” I snort. “The only thing you did was puff your chest and piss in a circle around me like some kind of animal.” I cross my arms. “What you said and did was totally uncalled for. He already feels bad enough about what happened, and he doesn’t need you—”

“Hold the damn phone. Are you seriously going to stand here and defend him to me, your fiancé?”

Shit.

“No.” I inhale a breath. “I don’t know.” I rub my face. “Calling him a junkie and a killer was below the belt. Oakley’s trying to be a better person.”

He just needs someone to be there for him and believe in him so he can start believing in himself.

Stone’s face hardens. “How would you know?” Anger fills his expression. “Are you talking to him behind my back?”

Oh, fuck.

It’s on the tip of my tongue to tell him the truth and let the chips fall where they may, but I know it won’t go over well.

He’ll end up getting my brothers involved and everyone will watch me like a hawk even more.

I already feel like a bird trapped in a gilded cage, and if they tighten their reins on me and do everything they can to forbid me to see him…I’ll lose what’s left of my mind.

So…I lie.

Because sometimes you can want something so much, you’d do anything to keep it.

Even if it means crossing all the lines and breaking all the rules.

“No,” I whisper. “I haven’t.”

I don’t know what to make of the expression on his face. “What about him moving into my apartment complex? Did you know about that?”

Dammit.

“Not until I ran into him today.”

Seemingly satisfied, he nods. “Okay. I believe you.” Visibly relaxed now, he folds his arms around me. “You know how much I love you, right? That I’d literally do anything in the whole wide world for you.”

“I know,” I whisper against his chest. “But you scared me today. I didn’t know who you were.”

I loathed seeing that side of him.

He plants a kiss on the top of my head. “It won’t happen again, Bourne. I just saw him near you and I freaked because all I could think about was the accident and the possibility of losing you.”

Guilt floods my chest because I hate that I have to keep things from him. “You have nothing to worry about.”

It’s the truth. Oakley and I are friends, but I’m committed to Stone.

And hopefully in time, I’ll be able to tell Stone the truth and merge the two parts of my life together and they can be friends, too.

Although after the events of today, that’s doubtful.

He brings my knuckles to his lips and kisses my engagement ring. “I can’t wait to marry you.”

Ignoring the panic setting in, I give him a smile. “Me too.”

Chapter 25

Bianca

Painful pressure between my legs jolts me awake.

“What—”

The sound of Stone’s winded grunts and the sensation of his dick thrusting inside me makes everything clear.

“I was sleeping,” I snap.

Wrapping his arm around my waist, he turns me so I’m lying flat on my back and squeezes one of my tits. “I know but you looked so sexy I couldn’t resist.”

A moment later, my legs are pressed to my chest and he’s pumping inside me again.

It hurts so much worse than it usually does.

Probably because I wasn’t prepared.

“You feel so good, Bourne.”

I want to tell him that can’t possibly be true because it’s the equivalent of the Sahara down there, but I’m so tired of fighting. It’s stealing every drop of mental and emotional energy I have.

Closing my eyes, I try to conjure up moments from all the decent sex we’ve had in the past.

Back when things were good between us and we felt unbreakable.

However, it doesn’t work because it only reminds me of how strained things are now.

I give him a fake moan, hoping to speed things along. Usually Stone finishes fast, but tonight him and his dick are taking their sweet time.

Too bad I’m not in the right state of mind to enjoy it.

Past…

Thunder booms loud enough to shake the entire house.

A minute later, lightning follows, illuminating the windows of my bedroom.

Panic crawls up my spine. It rarely rains, let alone thunders in California, but whenever it does, it never fails to put me on edge.

When I was younger, I used to sneak into Liam’s room and wait for it to end, but clearly that’s no longer an option.

And given my dad is on another work trip and Jace and Cole have moved out…I’m all alone in this big-ass house.

So, I do the next best thing.

The one that feels right.

I rush downstairs and snatch the keys to the guesthouse.