Series: Torn and Bound Duet Series by K. Webster
Total pages in book: 97
Estimated words: 94135 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 471(@200wpm)___ 377(@250wpm)___ 314(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 94135 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 471(@200wpm)___ 377(@250wpm)___ 314(@300wpm)
Claire isn’t laughing now.
Her icy glare is fixated on me.
“Darling,” Claire hisses. “I’m confused. Do you know this young man or should I have security show him out?”
“He’s with me,” Mia bites out.
Claire glowers at her. “Your decisions regarding your life lately are concerning. First, you’ve developed this eating disorder where you consume everything in sight and now, you’re acting out sexually. You’re an embarrassment to me and your father.”
I turn my glare on Claire, slowly inspecting all her flaws and letting it show on my face. Wrinkles she tries to hide. She and Ancient Barb must see the same skin doc. Skin that’s no longer smooth and perfect like her daughter’s. Thinner hair than her daughter’s. Saggier tits. Pursed, wrinkly lips. It’s the sneer on her face that makes her so horrible to look at.
She’s ugly inside and out.
Everyone knows it, especially her.
“Mia, is this old witchy woman bothering you?” I ask, ignoring the bitch.
“Mother,” Mia says, straightening her spine. “My decisions are mine to make, not yours. This is my other boyfriend, Ashton.”
The group around us gasps and her father’s face pales. He says nothing. Does nothing.
Her mother, though, is furious.
Red slowly turns to purple on Claire’s face like a pimple ready to burst. She raises her hand, but I preempt her move, releasing Mia to stand in front of her. The vile woman smacks me hard against the cheek, her eyes flickering with hatred.
Several cameras flash.
I step forward, sneering at Mia’s horrible mother. “Your friend Barbie Lyndell thinks it’s time for you to see your therapist again. This time, why don’t you seek help for the emotional and mental abuse you’ve spent eighteen years inflicting on your daughter?”
“How dare you,” Claire seethes. “She is my daughter and our relationship is none of your business.”
“The hell it isn’t,” I snap. “She’s my goddamn girlfriend and I’ll be damned if I let you belittle her like she’s a piece of shit. Apologize.”
“Mia,” Claire shrieks. “Are you going to let him speak to me this way?”
“He’s right.” Mia steps up beside me and takes my hand. “You’re horrible to me.”
“People are watching,” her mother hisses.
“I’m sure they’ve all witnessed your cruelty firsthand, especially Dad,” Mia says, lifting her chin. “These two men are my boyfriends and I won’t be ashamed of that. I’m tired of not being enough for you—for either of you.”
“Mia,” her father murmurs weakly but gets shut down with an icy glare from Claire.
“You don’t want to do this,” Claire warns.
“I already have,” Mia says as Brayden takes her other hand. “We’re leaving. I think we’ve overstayed our welcome.”
“You walk out that door with them and I will disown you! You can kiss your spoiled life goodbye!” Claire shrieks. “I will cut you off before you take your first breath outside that door!”
“Goodbye, Mother.” Then to her dad, she says, “Thanks for sticking up for me, Dad.”
I flip the bitch off and then drag my girl away from the horde of ravenous onlookers. As we pass the osteoporosis Barbara, she cackles.
“Lovely show, young man. I knew I liked you.” She winks like I did her a goddamn favor.
I flip her off too. “Go home, old lady. You’re a decrepit antique in a room full of shiny trophies. I’m embarrassed for you.”
She gapes at me, but I don’t give a fuck. I’m so over these monsters. All I care about is getting my girl the fuck out of here. We make it outside and Brayden bulldozes a path for us to the parking garage. His phone is pressed to his ear as he urgently speaks to someone. By the time we make it away from the curious people, a limo screeches to a halt in front of us.
The window rolls down, revealing our motherfucking prince charming.
Thank fuck.
We climb in with Drew. Mia gets pulled into his arms while I settle in the seat across from them with Brayden. I’m quaking with fury. How fucking dare that bitch say those things to our girl?
“You okay?” Drew asks, stroking her hair.
“I am now.” She smiles my way. “Thank you guys for being here.”
“I’m sorry,” I grumble. “I know she’s your mom, but she infuriated me with how she spoke to you.”
“I’m glad it happened,” Mia admits. “It was inevitable.”
“I shouldn’t have exploded in front of all those people.” I pinch the bridge of my nose. “Fuck.”
Brayden’s hand rubs at the back of my neck. “You spoke seconds before me, man. I wasn’t going to take any more of the shitty remarks about our girl. If Drew were there, he would’ve done the same thing.”
“My heroes,” Mia says, laughing. “Ashy C, look at me.”
I drop my hand to stare at the most beautiful girl in the world.
“I love you,” she assures me. “And as much as I dread the fallout of what my mother will do, I don’t regret it. It gives me pure joy you put her in her place in front of all her friends.”