“Because I'd kill him.”
He stood up after that, pulling out his wallet and taking out a hundred, throwing it on the table. He had to leave. Get out of there. Do something. He was getting that itching feeling under his skin. Like he wanted to crawl outside of himself. He had to run, or swim, or scream, or punch someone in the face.
“I just want you to know,” Liam caught up with him once they were outside the restaurant.
“I'm not in the goddamn mood for a conversation, Eden,” Wulf growled. Punching someone was suddenly seeming like the mostly likely outcome of the evening.
Far different from what I'd had in mind. Fucking Tocci, screwing up my life yet again.
“That's fine. But I just have to say – if that's what's really going on, if this is some sort of challenge, a way for her to make us prove our feelings for her, then game on. I'm not backing down, Wulf. You fucked her over just as bad as I did, which means I have just as good a chance at winning her back. Better even,” Liam warned him. Wulf barked out a laugh.
“How are your chances better than mine?”
“Because you were just some guy she slept with,” Liam said. “I was her friend. Maybe her best friend. That's harder to forget. I know her in ways you never did. I'm not gonna just let you walk away with this, not this time.”
“What, implying you did last time?” Wulf was really laughing by then.
“No, I'm saying I backed down last time because I knew what we were doing was wrong, so I didn't want to hurt her any more than I already had by making her fall in love with both of us,” Liam explained.
“Fine. Fine, Eden, if that helps you sleep at night, then fine. But I can tell you right now exactly why you'll lose,” Wulf said, digging his car keys out of his pocket.
“Oh, really? And why exactly am I going to lose, oh wise and all knowing Wulfric?”
“Because you're still thinking of it as a game, and regardless of what she said tonight, she stopped being a game to me a long time ago.”
13
Liam laid in bed and stared at his ceiling. Street lamps cast a glow through the windows, and the orange light stretched the entire length of his apartment.
He'd removed all the walls, converting the penthouse apartment into a loft, because he liked space. Wide open spaces. He didn't like boundaries or borders. He didn't like being shut out of something.
It was basically an analogy for his entire life. He'd always been made to feel like he was second best growing up, but he'd never understood why. Sure, his twin brother had gotten better grades. Had been much smarter, which had afforded him more opportunities.
But why should that make Liam less worthy? Less capable of succeeding? That's how his parents had always made him feel, though. Landon Edenhoff was the golden child, could do no wrong, nothing could hold him back. The sky was the limit. For god's sake, he was a doctor in some charity hospital in Guatemala, or somewhere.
Poor little Liam, though, with his C grades. Sneaking off to surf instead of taking his SATs. Always being told because he wasn't smart enough, wasn't quick enough, wasn't sharp enough, he'd never succeed. It's bad enough having a successful sibling with a natural talent – but having that sibling be a twin? A carbon copy showing him up at every family gathering. And a real asshole, to boot.
So when Liam had gotten his management position, had done such a good job turning around the business, he had thought that would finally prove something. He was a success in his own right. Landon was having his own issues. A nasty divorce, problems at work. Maybe Liam had a chance to be the winner, for once.
And then enter Wulfric fucking goddamn “everything I touch turns to gold” Stone.
Liam had taken an instant dislike to him, but hadn't really cared, because he didn't have to deal with him much. When the twins inherited the Twin Estates, Wulf had arranged a meeting. They'd signed paperwork, gone over some different management options. Then later, Wulf had helped with the permits Liam needed to remodel his apartment. All strictly professional.
So when Liam had first gotten the idea to buy The Garden sex club, it had been a natural leap to think of asking Wulf for advice. And when Wulf had offered to invest in the club, to buy half of it and turn all the managing over to Liam, Liam hadn't seen a downside.
My biggest regret. Now I'm stuck with him.
It was like his childhood all over again. Wulf was an arrogant asshole who knew he was smarter than everyone around him. Knew he was richer and better and more talented. Knew he was all these things that Liam could never be.
They had a weird relationship that mostly involved attempting to one up each other. Hitting on the same girl at the bar, seeing who could get her phone number first. Seeing who she'd go home with first. It was a toss up, usually. Almost exactly fifty-fifty, but that wasn't good enough for Liam. He wanted to win. Wanted to be better than Wulf at something.
That's why Katya had particularly stung. To really fall for that girl. To care about her and want good things for her, yet to have to watch her fall for the asshole. It was like confirming his worst fears. That he was still that little boy who wasn't quite good enough for anyone.
It was right, and it damn sure wasn't fair. Liam was every bit as worthy of her love as Wulf. Hell, more worthy. He ran a successful business, he owned expensive property, he was funny as hell, he was sexy as fuck, and he was good in bed. He was every bit as good as Wulfric Stone.
I won't lose to him again.
14
“I'm sorry, what?”
Katya crept down the hallway, looking back over her shoulder.
“I said I want to go to the beach,” Liam said, not creeping at all, just boldly striding ahead of her.
He's braver than I am.
“Okay. Have fun. You want me to water your plants, or something?” she asked, trying to remember if he even owned any plants.
“Angel cake, do I seem like the kind of guy who can keep a spider plant alive?” he laughed.
“Keep your voice down!” she hissed, swatting at his back as they stopped in front of a door.
“Why?”
“Do you want him to hear you? He'll murder you on the spot.”
“I've given him much better reasons over the years than this, I'll be fine. Besides, I told you, Wulf isn't home,” Liam said, flipping through a bunch of keys on a ring.
“Are you sure? I mean, positive? What if he comes home? God, why am I doing this?” Katya groaned, glancing over her shoulder again, expecting the elevator to open at any moment, revealing an omnipresent Wulf.
“Because it's exciting, and the new you seems to love danger and excitement. Are you really scared of the Wulf-man?” Liam teased, finally selecting a key and shoving it into the bolt lock. It slid open and he moved down to the door knob.
“I'm not scared of him,” Katya responded instantly.
Liar.