“No, you wanted a hell of a lot more than friendship. My sister was gone, and you were moving onto the next girl.”
He felt his anger growing with her accusations. “That was not what happened, and you know it,” he said, growling.
“It wasn’t? You could have fooled me. You kissed me, remember?” Her arms were folded. She’d dropped her bag to the floor.
Nash was speechless by what he was seeing. Sophia had always been quiet, sweet around him. The woman before him was not sweet or light. There was a dark edge to her that he couldn’t describe or understand. What had he been missing?
“What’s going on with you?” he asked.
“Nothing. You’re here trying to get answers. I want you to answer my question.” Her voice rose, yelling at him.
“I kissed you because I wanted to, Sophia.”
“Why? Are you giving the fat girl a pity f**k?” she asked.
The anger spilled out. Grabbing the picture frame from the drawer unit beside him, he threw it across the room. The frame landed against the wall, smashing. Sophia didn’t flinch. She looked startled. Her gaze moved from the frame to him.
“Don’t ever say shit about yourself like that. I never thought of you in that way, Sophia. I kissed you because I wanted you.” He stopped, putting his shaking hands on his hips. “Fine, you want answers, then I’ll tell you the truth. “I was f**king your sister so I could be closer to you. I couldn’t stand Kate. I was with her for the easy f**k she was. When I wanted to get my dick wet, she was there. Satisfied?” he asked.
Tears were streaming down her face. “Get out.”
“No. I was with Kate for you.”
“What?”
He laughed. “Shocked you, have I? Guess what, baby? I wanted you. I couldn’t give a shit about Kate, and I don’t even miss her. I’m sorry she’s dead. She was your sister, and I know that’s going to be hard to deal with, but I don’t give a shit about her being gone or not. You were the one I wanted.”
Nash let it all out without leaving anything left between them. She looked a little pale from his outburst. For too long they’d let their situation slide. He wasn’t going to let Sophia mistake his feelings again.
“You used my sister to get to me?” He nodded. “Why?”
Taking a step closer, she took a step back. Nash stalked her until she was trapped by the kitchen counter. Putting his hands either side of her on the counter, he leaned in close. “You make me ache, Sophia. When I look at you, I want to make you mine all the time. You’re all I can think about. I want you badly.”
She licked her lips, staring at him. He moaned.
“Lash came to see me today.”
He tensed up. Her words were the last thing he’d expected her to say. “What?”
“Your brother came to see me. He wanted to ask me a couple of questions about you.”
Stepping back, Nash felt nervous. He thought he’d seen his brother’s bike, but he couldn’t be sure.
“What did he want?” he asked.
“To tell me to fix you. You’re using drugs, aren’t you?”
Shame unlike anything he’d ever felt crawled over him.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.” He didn’t look into her eyes. The moment he gave in and looked into her eyes, it was over.
“Kate died because of those f**king things, and you’re using them.”
Glancing up, he saw the accusation in her eyes. It was all too much for him.
“You don’t know me, and you’re not the boss of me.”
“Drugs killed Kate. I’m not watching you do the same.” She walked past him, opening up the front door. “Get the f**k out. I’m not getting involved with you.”
“We’re friends.”
“You’ve done fine without me these last few months. I’m sure you can deal with this crap without me.”
Nash stared at the open door. Her eyes were downcast.
“What happened to you?” he asked.
“What do you mean?” She looked up finally meeting his eyes.
“You were so sweet and charming.”
The tears she’d wiped away began falling once again. “You really don’t know me at all.”
He frowned, getting closer. “Sophia, please.”
“No. I don’t want any part in this at all. We’re done.”
She shoved him out of the door and slammed it closed. He heard the lock turning.
“Sophia, open up,” he said. Nash waited for her to say something.
Nothing happened. Slamming his fist against the door, Nash stormed off. He didn’t need Sophia, bitch that she was, or his brother the meddling bastard. He didn’t need any of them.
Running downstairs, he left the apartment block and climbed onto his bike. He needed a score, and he knew just where to get one. For those few seconds the club, his brother, and even Sophia meant nothing to him.
Gunning his machine, he travelled into the next town going to the worst part of it. Climbing the stairs of the rundown building, he noted the whores and addicts decorating the stairwell. Ignoring them all and the voice in his head telling him to get away, he slammed open the door.
The guy he’d beaten up the other week was sat at the table weighing everything out.
“I want my stuff,” Nash said.
“I’ve been told not to give to you.”
Pulling out his weapon, Nash showed off his gun. “Give me my stuff, or I’ll shoot your balls off. Your choice.” He was done playing games. Nash needed to lose himself before the reality of everything came crashing down all around him.
****
Letting out a breath, Sophia slipped onto the floor waiting for him to leave. When he thumped the door, she jumped but didn’t do anything. The sound of his feet down the stairwell made her relax.
“Breathe, Sophia, breathe,” she said.
There was nothing else she could do to help Nash. Kate had been high on the drugs toward the later stage of her life, and she wasn’t dealing with more drugs.
Turning her gaze toward one of the few photographs she owned of the two of them together, she saw Kate smiling back at her. The Skulls had been amazing when she died. She imagined it was down to Nash, getting the funeral paid for when he didn’t have to.
She was broke and wouldn’t have given a great service at all. Throughout it all, Nash had been there by her side, holding her hand the whole time. He’d been her rock through the worst time in her life, and she’d kicked him to the curb as if he was trash.