Bully Me Then (Bully Me #3): A Best Friend's Brother Bully Romance Read online

  Yes, I’m also fully aware that I have zero self-control when I’m around him, and he plays on that. He plays on my weakness, he always has done, and it’s all just another sick and twisted game he likes to play.

  But he’s a grown-ass man and he should know better. And just as Hadley was quick to point out, he’s the one with a girlfriend, so he should have made sure to stay the hell away from me.

  I know I’m not getting anywhere with this, so I reach out and grab my purse from the coat stand. It’s best for me to leave now before anymore irreversible damage can be done. And Hadley suddenly calls out, “Willow, wait. Please don’t go. We need to talk about this.” Her voice is sharp, but I can still detect an undertone of sadness. Unfortunately, the damage has been done and it’s too late for her to try to backtrack now.

  “I agree.” I reply before pulling the strap of my purse over my shoulder, “but it seems to me that you two,” I look between Hadley and Colby to emphasize my point. “You’ve already done all the talking. You’ve made your mind up, so there isn’t anything left to say.”

  “Willow, wait.” Hadley tries to stall me again, but I can’t deal with her right now. I can’t deal with either of them.

  “Well, seeing how you’re both so invested in one another, the two of you can work out who’s gonna cover my shift. I’m out of here.”

  I storm passed Colby and the ignorant ass doesn’t even bother to step aside for me. My heart is still racing, and I can feel my anger bubbling deep within my chest and I know if I don’t walk away now, I’ll end up doing something I’ll live to regret. I definitely think it’s best for everyone if I drop off the radar for a while.

  And with that thought burning deep in my mind, I open the office door without so much as a backwards glance at Colby and Hadley and walk straight out into the crowded bar.

  I guess Hadley’s stoked she has a hero of a big brother back in her life. But we all know he won’t be around forever. He’ll soon mess up or get himself caught up in some illegal activity, or maybe he’ll find something better to do with his time. Only this time, poor little Hadley will soon find I won’t be around to pick up the pieces.

  CHAPTER THREE

  COLBY

  “You sure you’re not feeding me a load of bullshit just to shut me up?”

  That’s Hadley. I look at her and I can tell she’s not happy with me, or Willow. But what the fuck was I supposed to do or say to her?

  “Oh, by the way, Hads. I get a sick and twisted kick every time I fuck your best friend?”

  Somehow, I don’t think that will go down to well. “Why would I do something like that?” I ask her instead. I know I’m lying to her face, but I’ve been left with no other choice. I know this is all kinds of wrong, but I need to keep my head above water here, otherwise I’ll end up sinking like a dead weight with no hope for survival. But even though lying to her is wrong, and a dangerous game to play, I also know it’s for the best. In my own crazy-ass way I know I’m doing what I need to do to protect her from any unnecessary hurt in the long run.

  You have to be cruel to be kind sometimes.

  I also know that I’m hurting Willow too by putting all the blame on her. It’s definitely not something I’m proud of, but I know Willow is a tough cookie and I know she’s strong enough to handle it. She’ll be beyond mad at me right now but if I give it a couple of days this will all blow over. The heat will die down, Hadley will back off, and Willow… well, we’ll go back to how we’ve always been—a bad mix of fucked-up craziness.

  I know this because I know Willow, and I also know that I’ve put her through far worse situations, and we’ve come out okay on the other end.

  “Do you want me to be honest with you, Colby?” Her voice is soft and worry dances in her big brown eyes.

  “Always.” I reply, while pouring another shot of whiskey. If Hadley can’t be honest with me then I have well and truly failed at my job as her big brother and protector. I’m also aware that I don’t deserve either one of these titles, but that’s for me to concern myself with.

  “I’m not buying it.” She tells me after a dramatic pause. “Something just isn’t sitting right with me. I know one of you is lying. I just don’t know who yet.” I desperately want to look away and laugh her accusations off but Hadley’s not stupid. She’ll see right through me. Just like she’s doing right now. “I know Willow too. Way better than she knows herself.”

  Well, that would make two of us then. “Want to know what I think?” I lift the amber liquid to my lips and down it, focusing on the burn as it makes its way down my throat. I need to pull this back and fast.

  “Let’s hear it.” Hadley sounds far from impressed.

  “Obviously Willow didn’t grow out of that stupid crush she had on me when we were kids. Who knows, maybe me coming back here has opened up some old wounds for her?” I shrug, trying my best to act like I pity Hadley’s best friend for never getting over me, but in truth I don’t give a damn because I know Willow will never be over me.

  “Willow never had a crush on you.” Hadley exclaims and her eyes shine bright and open so wide I’m worried they might fall out of her head. “That girl hated you with a passion from the second she laid eyes on you. There is no way she’d ever look at you like that. Not back then. Don’t you remember how miserable you made her life on a daily basis? And I find it super hard to believe that she’d be crushing on you now.”

  Even though I know Willow hated me, she still hates me, the words still stab at my heart. Hearing it out loud kind of brings it home. Sure, Willow hated me because I made her hate me. She hated me with everything she had. I made her life hell not because I wanted to, but because I had to. It was way out of my control. I needed to keep her safe from the hidden dangers around Redlake. But even through all that, I also know she loved me fiercely too.

  “You only see what you want to see, little one.”

  Hadley opens her mouth to argue with me, but she decides against it and closes it again. It feels all kinds of weird, and wrong to be discussing this topic of conversation with my little sister. I know I should be going after Willow, to make sure she’s okay and to try to right the wrongs that I’ve done by her, but what’s the point?

  If I catch up with her and tell her I was trying to keep Hadley off the scent, she’d never believe me because I’ve gone the wrong way about it. Plus, it’s not like I can just up and leave, run out on Hads to go and find Willow because that would be totally out of character for me. Then Hadley would definitely be on my case trying to get to the bottom of this mess like the detective she truly is.

  “You want another drink?” I ask when the silence grows thick and heavy again. Obviously, her issues with Ryder must have passed if she’s keen to hang out at sinners.

  “No, I’m good.” She bats me off with a quick flick of her wrist and her face grows more serious. “I’m glad I caught you, actually.” Her wide eyes burn into mine, Willow thankfully forgotten about for now, but if I’m not careful she won’t quit until she’s one-hundred percent happy that there’s nothing going on between us.

  “What’s on your mind?”

  Hadley bites her bottom lip as she decides whether or not to press whatever’s weighing on her shoulders. Then finally she speaks, “have you spoken to Tiffanie since you left this morning?”

  “Um… no.” I don’t really plan on speaking to her anytime soon either. Not if I can help it. That chick does nothing but tear me down to a place where I don’t want to be anymore. I’m so done with her and all the bullshit that comes along with it. I swear she better not be giving Hadley any shit because she can mess with me all she likes, but she needs to keep my family out of her dramas. If she doesn’t then I’ll end her faster than she can scream my name. Deano, or no Deano. “Has she been creating drama?”

  “Not really.” Hadley muses. “But she seems pretty keen to get hold of you, and fast. She’s been tearing up the whole of Redlake trying to look for you, and man, she doesn’t hold any pr
isoners, does she?”

  “No. She’s definitely one of a kind.” I bite out and I can feel my anger simmering just beneath the surface. Tiffanie needs to be real careful when she’s going about her day to day business around here. She knows better than to cause issues and try to embarrass me on my own turf.

  “Apparently she was in here earlier looking for you and she didn’t look all too great. She was throwing out demands trying to get Willow to call you, but it looks like Willow managed to calm her down and send her home. And, that’s where I found her.” She sighs. “Damn, that chick is crazy, Colb.”

  “Why didn’t she call me herself? She has a goddamn phone, and she sure as hell knows how to use it because she always has her fucking head stuck in it. I’m surprised her eyes haven’t gone square.

  “She did.” Hadley offers. “Quite a few times from what she told me. Only she couldn’t get through because it’s never switched on. Her words, not mine.” She adds.

  I reach inside my pocket and retrieve my cell, and sure enough the press of a button confirms its flatter than Hadley’s coffee. I swear I put the thing on charge last night, but then technology has never been my strong point. I don’t understand today’s generation and their fascination of communicating and trying to do business through a piece of glass. I’ve always been a face to face kind of guy. “So it is.” I wave the device in the air. “I’m sorry she started acting up. Did she say why she needed to reach me so urgently?”

  “No. But to be fair she wasn’t making much sense. I think she was a little high and full of alcohol. All she kept saying was, ‘I don’t know who you think I am. Someone’s going to pay.’ My eyes dart to Hadley’s and my jaw clenches.

  The stupid bitch.

  Why the fuck can’t she learn to keep her cock-sucking mouth shut?

  “Any thing else?” I really hope there isn’t anything else. Hadley can tell as much with the harshness of my voice.

  “Look, I don’t know what you’re involved with. Maybe I was right with my first hunch and the bitch is just cray-cray. Maybe it was a result of her getting carried away at the bar while you’re running this place, but either way you need to sort her out, and fast.” I know she’s right, and fortunately Hadley doesn’t know the extent of it. “I don’t want any bullshit at my door, Colby and you can bet Bryson will tear you a new one if it lands on his.”

  Fuck. Fuck. Fuck.

  My chest rises and falls rapidly as I try to control my temper, and I’m not doing a good job. It would be so easy to smash this place a part before I find Tiffanie. But I know that won’t do anyone any favors. I need a straight, clear head before I make any rash decisions. But first I need to set Hadley straight because the last thing I need is her sniffing around my business playing Ms. Detective only to innocently end up in the firing line.

  “Hey, don’t you worry your pretty little head. She’s always been a bit erratic, especially when there’s alcohol involved. Also, she hasn’t been herself since we arrived back in Redlake. How about I let her sleep it off and I promise I’ll have a word with her tomorrow, okay?”

  “Okay… so long as you’re sure nothing else is going on?” she questions and there is zero trust in her eyes. How can she not trust me? That’s what I’m supposed to give her at all times.

  “Jeez, Hads. You’re full of conspiracies today, huh? You still knee deep in all those crime shows?” I laugh some and try to lighten the moods.

  “What would that matter?” she waggles her eyebrows at me the way she used to do when we were kids. “If you’re innocent then you have nothing to worry about, do you?”

  “Right.”

  Hadley pushes herself up from the chair but her focus never leaves my face, and sometimes she reminds me so much of mom. “Well, you better be—for your own sake.”

  Hadley’s warning sounds in my ears and I can’t help but laugh. There’s no denying Hadley’s a feisty one, that’s for sure and I know her words aren’t an empty threat. Hadley doesn’t mess around and she always delivers when it comes to someone who has done her wrong.

  When I look at her, I feel nothing but love and pride for the fiercely strong independent woman she’s turned into. Even after all she’s been through, the tragedies life has thrown her way, she’s still here—standing tall.

  Mom and dad would have been so proud too. Now, that I am one-hundred percent certain of.

  CHAPTER FOUR

  WILLOW

  “Are you asleep or are you just ignoring me?”

  I keep my eyes closed and remain quiet as Colby’s voice tickles the nape of my neck and shivers dance down my spine.

  I knew he was here before he even opened his mouth. I heard the creek of my bedroom door when he opened it, but I hoped if I stayed super quiet and tried my damned hardest to keep my breathing low and steady, maybe then he’d finally get bored and leave.

  Maybe he’d realize he was trying to fight a losing battle.

  But then, this is the elusive and relentless Colby Carter that we’re talking about, and he doesn’t lose at anything. And he certainly doesn’t believe in giving up. He’ll continue in his pursuit, no matter how big or small. He won’t stop until he gets what he came for, and in this instance, it looks like he wants me.

  Again.

  I don’t think he realizes that I’m still super mad at him and how easy it was for him to toss me aside earlier, and if he does the he clearly doesn’t care. It’s not my fault he couldn’t be man enough to grow some balls and admit to his sister that it was all him. He was the one to make the first move.

  Colby kissed me.

  He did what he does best. He lured me in, captured me under his hypnotic spell just the way he always does.

  I know it’s foolish of me to think he’d ever take one for the team. He’s always looked out for number one, figuring how to swing messed-up situations around to go in his favor, so I shouldn’t even be remotely shocked by his behavior.

  I already knew deep down somewhere in my heart of hearts that he would always snake his way out of it and pass all the blame on to me. To be fair, if I wasn’t so distracted by him then I would have seen it coming a mile off.

  “Both, now fuck of out of here.” I finally hiss out when his presence becomes too much to handle. I really don’t know what he thinks he’s going to achieve by creeping into my room in the middle of the night. I can guess what he’s after, but he’s even crazier than I thought if he thinks he’s getting a repeat of last time.

  “And, there she is.” Colby makes a quick grab for my ass as he leans in closer to my neck and he whispers, “my feisty princess.”

  “I’m not your anything.” I remind him with a large dose of venom on my tongue. “Now, why don’t you do yourself a favor and go away.” I sense him smile behind me and a low chuckle rumbles deep within his throat confirming this is all just a stupid game for him. “Laugh all you like, but it doesn’t change anything. You’ll always be the same and it doesn’t matter how much time passes—you’ll always be a glorified Grade A dick.”

  “That’s your call, princess. Everyone’s entitled to an opinion, but we both know it doesn’t matter what you do or don’t say. It won’t change the fact that I could stay here and watch you all night long.”

  My breathing is labored, and it catches in my throat when Colby’s skin touches mine. A spark of electricity pulsates through my veins as his fingers delicately trace the contour of my collar bone, and I really wish my body wasn’t this responsive to him.

  “Plus, it’s not like I’ve got anything better to do with my time, and you’ve always been my favorite way to waste it.”

  I throw myself over at his words so I can get a better look at my unwanted, yet very much wanted intruder. Obviously, the son of a bitch was trying to get some kind of reaction from me as his cocky, arrogant smirk is plastered over his ruggedly beautiful face. He looks so damn good no matter his mood and that only infuriates me more. He’s such a jerk, and he’s proud as fuck about it too.

 
It’s no secret that I hate him. I detest everything about him, but I also know that deep down inside the deepest depths of my soul I still enjoy the stupid and fucked-up game of cat and mouse that we have going on. I’m just as twisted as Colby getting off on the thrill of it.

  “What do you want, Colby?” I bite out through clenched teeth. I’m trying so hard to stay mad at him. Trying my best to prove to the both of us that I’m not as weak as I used to be, but neither one of us are falling for it. It’s impossible to stay mad at someone who can break down all your protective walls with just one look, and because of this I’m now fuming with myself.

  I’m conscious that the rest of the household—Hadley and Tiffanie—are still fast asleep, but that still doesn’t make this right. The last thing I need is Hadley finding Colby hiding out in my room.

  Actually, maybe that’s exactly what I need to happen. Then Hadley will see her perfect brother in all his not so innocent glory. She’ll finally see that he’s the one who can’t stay away from me, or my room. Hadley will finally have to admit defeat and admit that it’s Colby who is the one chasing me. Not the other way around like she wants to believe.

  I sigh in defeat and I know I’m the one who’s really trying to fight the losing battle. And I know I’m losing it at every possible turn too.

  Both with Hadley and Colby.

  But what can I do? I’ve tried so hard to be strong, but in reality, I’m too weak to fight it. To weak to fight Colby and I’m ashamed. It doesn’t matter how hard I try I can’t seem to get him out of my head or my life at all. He always manages to find a way to creep back in.