Reckless: Damaged & Destroyed #1 Page 7

  Olivia looks smug. Way too fucking smug. I guess she's really going to enjoy making me pay for my stupid mistake.

  I think it's best I keep Amber on the down-low for now because I'd hate to add salt to the wounds, and I'd hate to push Liv over the edge. I might be a selfish son of a bitch, but I'm not evil.

  I need to keep Olivia on side. I need to get us back to the friendship level we were at before and I know that will take a lot of time—and grovelling. Hell, I'm a lucky bastard for her to even be here.

  "All right, boys. Buckle up, because they're here. And I want you to be on your best behavior. Understood?" She beams happily and she trots off toward the door.

  I turn to look at Craig. "Is it me, or does Liv seem far too happy about this?"

  "Yeah, but then seeing how badly you treated her, the least you can do is give her the satisfaction of watching you squirm in front of the one thing you hate most in the world."

  He's not wrong and I know it’s a small price to pay. I will be the bigger person here. I'll face the press, just like Liv wants me to, just to satisfy her revenge. I mean, what's the worst that can happen?

  Olivia walks back into the living area and heeled footsteps follow behind her.

  "Rixon, your audience awaits." Liv must sense my discomfort as she moves closer, a look of pity on her face as she says, "don’t worry, you'll be fine. I thought you'd find it easier if I called in someone you know."

  Liv shrugs back at me and I don’t know what game she's playing because I sure as hell don't know any of those leeches. I'd rather drink my own piss than associate with them.

  "What?" A frown forms on Liv's face and she looks puzzled. "You know Amber, right?" Liv's smile grows wide and sinister as she steps aside and my heart drops when I see Amber, my beautiful fucking Amber stood behind her.

  "Is this some sick joke?" I demand.

  "Lawson?" Amber asks, her voice unsure and confusion clouding her eyes. They darken, whipping up like an angry storm and no sparkle remains.

  "Lawson?" Liv laughs. "Oh no, sweetheart. This here is the one and only Rixon Smith. The undefeated world champion—in breaking hearts. Did he not tell you?" Liv feigns shock and I'm fucking livid.

  This is fucked-up. This goes beyond revenge. Liv is out for fucking blood and she doesn’t care who knows it either.

  "Hold up. Amber, what are you doing here?" I ask, just on the off chance I've missed something. Amber flinches at the harshness of my tone, but I'm so angry right now I don't give a damn.

  "I'm here to interview you." she replies innocently, yet she sounds unsure.

  "So, this has just been one big fucking game to you?" I hurl back at her, and even though she looks hurt I can't stop myself. "How the fuck did I miss this? You're a fucking leech too. But I guess you got your big story, didn’t you? And this, this must be Plan B?"

  "Law… Rixon, whatever you're really called, I had no idea who you were." Tears begin to fill her eyes and I catch Liv grinning like the cat who got the fucking cream.

  This is bullshit. I stand without thinking when a rage burns inside me, and I snap. I pick up and throw the nearby glass table across the room. It shatters against the wall. Craig tries to hold me down, but the damage has already been done.

  "Get the fuck out of my house—all of you." I scream. Amber doesn’t need telling twice and she's gone, out in a flash before anyone can stop her.

  Olivia doesn’t seem to be in any rush. If anything, I think she wants to stay and watch how this plays out. She walks toward me and looks right in my eyes, her smile never faltering.

  "You set me up?" I shout in her face and she doesn’t even flinch.

  Instead, she laughs right at me. "Too fucking right, I did. You fucked me. You used me while pretending I was that dumb bitch. So imagine my surprise when I found out what she did for a living." She snarls, showing no remorse. "Rixon, it's high time you grew the hell up, and began to listen to those close to you. Believe it or not, those are the ones who want what's best for you."

  "What the fuck is that supposed to mean?"

  "Now that's my point exactly. You're so wrapped up in your own selfish needs, you don't have time to listen to anyone else. If you did then you would have heard my warning last week when I told you she wasn’t what you think. But instead of listening to me, you flew off the handle like you always do and took it out on the ones closest to you."

  "Are you finished?" There's no way I'm gonna sit back and listen to this bullshit after what she's just done.

  Olivia comes even closer to me and then she slaps me so hard in the face, bright white stars fill my vison for a couple of seconds before it starts to subside. "Now I'm finished." Those are her final words as she turns and walks away toward the door and out of sight—and my head is still spinning.

  Amber. How the fuck can she be one of those scumbags? How, and I didn’t even know. Usually I can smell their kind from a mile off, but not her.

  There's no way I can spend time with her now. It's far too risky and fucking Liv knows that too. I could lose everything if Amber gets the tiniest clue about my past.

  Amber could blow my whole career and world out of the water and I'd be left with nothing.

  There's no way I can let that happen.

  I reach for my phone and bring up her number before typing out:

  I'm sorry. I can't do this.

  You're not who I thought you were…

  But it was fucking great while it lasted.

  Rixon.

  Craig eyes me suspiciously before retreating back to his office.

  I drag myself up and walk toward the cabinet along the back wall and reach for my emergency stash of Jack. If this isn’t an emergency situation then I don't know what the fuck is.

  I haven’t touched this stuff in years. I kept it here as a reminder of how far I've come, but if I'm gonna self-destruct, I may as well do it in style.

  To be continued…

  Coming July 2019!!!

  Lacey Heart is a book lover at heart.

  Both reading and writing are her passion. Latte's are her source of life.

  Offer her either of the above and you'll be friends for life.

  Lacey was born and raised in Manchester, UK and she still resides there today with her family.

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  Firstly, I would like to thank my amazing PA Louise and my editor Andie for all your support and encouraging words… especially in my many moments of madness. I know that I can reach out to you two at any given time and you will happily give me a kick up the ass and send me back on my merry way.

  Thank you to all the beautiful bloggers out there who have taken time out of your day to spread a little Lacey Love. It means the absolute world to me.

  Lastly, I would like to thank YOU…

  If you're reading this, thank you for taking a chance on Rixon and his story. I hope you continue to follow his journey. It will be rocky at times, but here's to hoping even damaged and destroyed alpha's get their happily-ever-after too.