Christine rubbed her stinging eyes. The mascara had probably dripped all over her face from all the crying, but it wasn't a problem. Her throat stung from screaming too much and it was annoying, but maybe an altered voice would help. She still wore her elegant party dress, waiting.

She wanted Sam to see that what happened affected her, that she hadn't, couldn't go on with her normal life as if nothing had happened. It had, and they should talk about it. He had to listen and forgive. No other outcome was possible.

But she hadn't expected Sam to go missing all night. The clock on the wall showed it was four in the morning. She'd been alone for five hours, crying her heart out, and it hurt. Hallowed her chest, made her cold. Abandoned and alone.

She'd thought he'd want to see her, even if just to yell at her. Then she could make him see sense, make him realize he loved her and didn't want to ruin what they had. Harry was a disposable nuisance they could overcome. If Sam would understand why she'd done it and fix it, she would never need anyone but him. And he would, because Sam was smart. Smart enough to come home. Except he hadn't.

Instead he'd left her sitting on the step leading to their bedroom, leaning against the jamb, looking a mess. If only he'd come... Her vision blurred, but she wasn't sure it was from the tears or her weariness. It would be so easy to close her eyes and just fall asleep there.

The key clicked in the lock and she jerked to attention, all thoughts of sleep leaving her mind. She scrambled to her feet, but before she could stand, the door open and Kyle came in. Ice ran down her spine as she froze in a half-raised posture.

For a moment, Kyle just glared at her, and it became instantly obvious that he knew. The steel in his eyes almost knocked the legs right out from under her. Her throat clogged and her eyes stung with tears again. He broke eye contact first and headed straight for her.

"What are you doing here?" she blurted out.

Kyle stopped and looked at her, one eyebrow raised. " You get one guess."

He was there to get Sam's stuff, no question about it. His stupid brothers had come together to make sure she couldn't soften him up and fix this. Panic slithered through her veins, making her nauseous. She couldn't lose Sam. Wouldn't lose him. She needed him.

"Where is Sam? How is he?"

"Oh, Sam's great," Kyle said with a huff. "He thinks you fucking Harry is the funniest thing he's heard in a while. He's still laughing."

Christine cringed. She was too used to Kyle censoring himself in front of her, but now the gloves were obviously off. And it made Kyle scary... Dangerous. A strange thrill ran through her as she studied him. There had always been something so intimidating about him, so raw. It was no wonder her sister had crushed on him for so long. So long and so much that it had ruined her relationship. But then again, who could really blame her?

She swallowed her irrelevant thoughts and focused on the matter at hand. "So he didn't have the guts to come here himself," she said, her tone full of acid. "He sent you because..." She faltered, realizing the answer.

Kyle smiled a sickeningly sweet smile. "Because I'm immune to your shit?"

Christine swallowed, the cold inside her intensifying, seeping into her bones, making her shiver.

"Oh, don't get me wrong," Kyle said, his voice almost joyful, "the others wanted to see you, too. Tom and Jimmy to wring your pretty neck. Only Jerry would probably feel sorry for you, but he's special like that. So you get me. They trusted me to behave." He pushed past her as if she were nothing and entered the bedroom.

Christine hugged herself and watched as Kyle pulled out a suitcase from the closet and started filling it with clothes. This was really happening. Sam was not coming back. He was abandoning her, leaving her to pain, to cold. She'd never felt more lonely and unwanted.

She needed the heat, needed to have someone appreciate her, not blame her. Touch her, want her. It was supposed to be Sam, but he wasn't there. Maybe he'd never be again. And only because he couldn't understand her need to feel loved, wanted, adored.

The loneliness made her angry, as it always did. Because that was Sam's job as her boyfriend. To make sure she never felt alone. Instead, he'd fled the ship and sent his oldest brother to do his dirty work. Like he wanted to rub in her face what she could never have.

She watched Kyle at work, studying the way his leather jacket stretched over his broad shoulders, how his dark blue jeans hung just right off his hips. He'd been the only guy she'd ever considered out of her league. He was gorgeous, hot and dangerous. But now, now that she paid close attention to him, she felt a burning desire to shove him off the pedestal. What was so special about him anyway? He was just a man, and she knew how to play them.

And she'd prove it to him that he was no better than her. All he needed was the right push. So she leaned against the jamb and crossed her arms under her chest to bring he in full view.

"Will you behave?" she asked, her tone playful.

Kyle didn't even bat an eyelash as he continued throwing random stuff in the suitcase.

"What, you're too afraid to even look at me?"

This caught his attention. He raised his gaze, his indigo eyes boring into her, burning her skin. "Afraid? Why would I be afraid?"

Christine scoffed. "Please. Do you think I can't tell how much I turn you on?"

Kyle just stared for a second, then just let out a short laugh. "Good one." And he took out the drawer of Sam's nightstand and emptied it in the suitcase.

She clenched her fists and gritted her teeth. "Yes, hide behind sarcasm all you want. But we both know you're not so perfect. I see the way you look at me and I recognize the lust in it."

Kyle froze and threw her a sideways glance as if calculating something. Her body tingled with anticipation. Could she have hit a nerve? Was he actually attracted to her, but very good at hiding it? He had to be. Everyone was attracted to her on some level.

Suddenly, he dropped Sam's shirts and charged at her. She stepped back until her back hit the wall, her head swimming with this delightful possibility. Her chest seemed to fill up and her confidence was back, stronger than ever. Kyle stopped an inch from her, his eyes taking her in from head to tow and she was sure she'd won. The heat radiating off his body made her dizzy, but it was the best kind.

Sam was in great shape, but Kyle was raw muscle, pure strength, excitement and danger. She knew he could lift her off the floor with one arm and she wanted that so much. When he leaned his hands against the wall, trapping her between his arms, she almost let out a whimper of delight.

He leaned and whispered in her ear, "You couldn't turn me on with a match, you screwed up little girl."

His words were meaningless when he was so close, obviously not meaning them. Her whole body trembled with desire. She wrapped her arms around his neck and pulled him towards her. He didn't let her and stopped just out of reach of her mouth, sensing her intention to kiss him, taste him. It was frustrating and enticing at the same time. She loved this game.

"Don't lie," she whispered. "Your mouth says no, but your body screams yes. You want me." She ran her hands on his shoulder, his chest, his abs. God, he was hot. "And I won't deny it might go both ways."

He let out a harsh laugh and pulled further away from her. "So the mask's finally off, then?"

Christine blinked. "Mask?"

"You don't give a shit about anyone but yourself. You don't care that you're throwing yourself at your boyfriend's brother, at your supposed friend's boyfriend. It's all about you and what you want." He slipped one arm around her waist and pulled her against him.

Her head swam and she dug her fingers into his skin. Preach all you want. You're still here, holding me. And in a matter of moments he would be doing far more commendable things because he wasn't any better than her. He was about to give her exactly what she wanted and it was going to be the best mistake both of them ever made.

She closed her eyes and leaned her head back, granting him access to her neck, her fingers curing around the belt loops in his jeans and pulling him closer. Her breathing was already labored, but she knew it worked like a charm.

Except he wasn't kissing her, wasn't responding in any way. Her eyes shot open only to find him squinting at her. And all of a sudden, he wasn't the sexiest man to ever touch her, but the scariest.

"You'd let me screw you," he declared as if it were an indubitable fact. "You desperately want me to." He dropped her and she stumbled against the wall. "Oh, how I could break you, but I promised to behave." He returned to the luggage as if nothing had happened, as if she hadn't just offered herself to him. "God, Sam's lucky he got rid of you."

Anger and despair battled inside her as the haze in her brain lifted and she finally registered his words. Was that really who she was? A selfish traitor? But Kyle's rejection hurt more than his words. How could he resist her, play with her so easily, when no one had when she'd put her mind into seducing then? He had to crack.

"So you're saying you don't want to screw me?" she challenged.

Kyle looked her straight in the eyes. "Not even one tiny little bit."

"How could you not want me? I'm beautiful." The last word came out trembling and she hated herself for it.

"Beautiful?" He scoffed. "You're a good looking piece of ass, I'll give you that, but you're not beautiful." He zipped the suitcase and lifted it off the bed. "You're not kind, considerate or loyal. Stuff like that makes you beautiful, not the way you look. And until you realize that, I'm sorry for every human being that crosses your path." He pushed past her and headed for the door.

Her stomach sunk into the ground. He couldn't go. Even if she hated him at the moment and he'd just humiliated her, she couldn't face being alone again. "Kyle, wait." Of course he wouldn't. "You can't just leave. I feel awful. You were supposed to be my friend."

Kyle stopped in the doorway and Christine was relieved to see there was no more cruelty in his eyes, maybe pity. She didn't like the pity, but it showed he at least cared a little.

For a moment, he just studied her, then heaved a sigh. "We're not friends, Christine. You made sure we never were. And, honestly, after what you just tried to pull, even if we were, it would be over."

Guilt squirmed inside her, so powerful it nearly choked her. "I'm sorry," she squeaked.

"You're not," he said, his voice tired. "You're only sorry you got caught. Sorry that you're hurting now, even if it's your own fault. You've got issues. Get yourself checked." And with that, he left, slamming the door behind him.

Christine remained rooted in the middle of the living room, Kyle's last words echoing in her ears. Her chest constricted and tears flooded her eyes. Here she was, left empty, hated, unwanted. And there was only one feeling that could silence them all. Anger took over, burning everything to the ground, making her fists clench and her nails dig into her palms so hard, she drew blood.

"You're wrong," she said to the empty room. "I am beautiful. And I'll get Sam back, whatever it takes. And neither you, nor him, nor anyone else can't stop me." That was a promise.

♠️♠️♠️

Much shorter this time around. I won't lie, I haven't written much since being back at work but I wanted to upload this and finish the chapter. Next update whenever.

So... yeah, this was pretty weird 😅 But not necessarily in a bad way. Thoughts? Predictions? Death threats? I guess Christine just wants to make sure it's legit over and she and Sam stand no chance. She truly hasn't thought this through.

Please don't forget to vote if you enjoyed and leave me your thoughts on this chapter and the story so far 😊