Broken Bond by C.J. Primer

Chapter 38

38

CALLUM

“I was beginning to think you were avoiding me,” Troy mutters dryly as he

forces his way past me into my apartment.

My muscles lock up as his shoulder knocks into mine. “Yeah, well I knew you wouldn’t stop calling until I picked up,” I

grumble.

I glare after my stepfather as he strides right into the living room like he owns the damn place, and all the effort I put into calming myself prior to this interaction is immediately wasted at the sight of him in my space. My jaw ticks in agitation, fingers twitching at my sides. I’m not fond of anybody intruding on my space, Nessa being the only exception.

That’s who I’m really doing this for. My

girl is an idealist; she can’t abide not seeing wrongs righted, so if there’s one to uncover here, I’ll try, for her. I finally picked up one of Troy’s calls this

morning and told him he could come over for a chat, though I still have doubts about Chase’s plan actually working. It’s

clever, but he doesn’t know Troy like I do. It’d take a sledgehammer for this man to

crack.

“Your mother’s hurt that you haven’t stopped by since you returned,” Fuckface comments as he sinks down onto my

sofa, throwing an arm over the back and settling in.

“I doubt that,” I snort.

He gives me a once-over, the corners of his eyes crinkling with a smile. “You’re right. She hasn’t even asked about you.” 7

He’s clearly wasting no time in trying to get under my skin. He should know by

now that I’m not phased by my mother’s indifference, though. I just shrug, striding into the room and taking a seat in the recliner on the opposite side, maintaining a detached, aloof exterior even though I feel bile crawling up my

throat.

Realizing his first barb didn’t land, Troy switches tactics. “Pity about that girlfriend of yours,” he murmurs as he picks a piece of lint off the sofa, flicking it

away.

My pulse picks up speed. Damnit. “What about her?” I grit out.

That patronizing grin of his that I fucking hate makes a swift appearance, my stepdad delighting in managing to strike a nerve. “Spencer said he’s seen her out with Miles,” he says, attempting to twist the knife. When I don’t immediately react, he presses on. “It must hurt, seeing her move on so quickly. And with one of

your so-called friends, no less.” Troy sucks in a hissed breath through his teeth, feigning a wince of sympathy. “You did the right thing, though, breaking that

off. Glad to see you took my advice to

heart.”

“We’re back together, actually,” I mutter before I can stop myself. I wasn’t

planning on revealing that little tidbit of information to this asshole, but seeing him sitting on my couch looking so smug, it just slips out. This is what he does; burrows himself under my skin until my knee-jerk reactions overpower rationality.

Troy’s brows shoot up, his impenetrable mask slipping momentarily. Then he fucking chuckles, like my life is all some big joke to him. “Interesting,” he tuts. ” Surprised you’d want her back after

another man had her.”

“You wanted Mom.” 13

I see the split-second reaction, the curl of his lip, the flash of anger in his eyes. But just as quickly as it appeared, he smooths it over, schooling his expression. “Well, I certainly hope she isn’t pregnant,” he muses. Pausing, his eyes narrow, that familiar look of hatred swirling behind them as he fixes me with a venomous gaze. “I’d hate for you to have to see what it’s like to live with another man’s

mistake.” 7

stings, but I don’t let him see it. He’s never

craved it, even. Now, I don’t want anything from him except for him to leave me the

I sigh, leaning

my fingertips against

me to

snaps, his patience wearing thin. “We discussed it the last time we spoke, though it seems that

right to the chase.

put in a good word for Spence, just like you asked me to. Problem

across his face again.

can’t suppress the grin that pulls at my lips. “Me.”

as his eyes narrow in rage, steam practically coming out of his ears. “You can’t

help it- this guy never allows his feathers to be ruffled. It’s so damn satisfying to see him being the one to squirm for

disbelief. ” You can’t accept the position, you know that.”

not?” I

what

you think I haven’t

interrupt,

my

the tight set of my

into

smile creasing his

have asked you to be an

factly. “Friend or

by granting rank

loose cannon.”

armrests of the recliner as I suppress my instinctual reaction.

this plan has any hope of

I say calmly, just as we rehearsed. “He said the

someone who isn’t afraid to do

be done. Someone with

killer instinct.”

instinct?” Troy scoffs. He shakes his head in disbelief, his composed mask slipping again.

I wanted you to see,

but I press on, sticking to the script. “And it worked, it got

laugh. “How you’d planned?!” he barks. ” Oh, that’s rich. As if a woman like that would’ve picked

press on, without

paid to

Bingo.

goes ramrod straight,

right- it was a setup.

all along.

did I never

waiting in the wings. My mind races, and I

this, Chase

had mentioned to him; the reason behind Alpha Vaughn’s suspicion of Troy. Apparently,

rank for himself in the past and

onto his son, and given how close

saw the writing on the wall;

Spencer. And if that were the case, it could’ve been his

it makes sense. Too much fucking

clever, huh?” Fuckface chuckles dryly, shaking his head.

I think he’s caught onto what I’m. trying to do here. But then he keeps

if you own what happened that night, it somehow makes you special?

crying when I sent you to time-out, crying when you thought you’d killed that whore. I paid

was hilarious, a prank between a father

son.”

Wait, what?

I stammer, trying to conceal the tremble

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