23. Torin

23

TORIN

Tate freezes, his fingers still buried deep in the little mouse's pussy. I smirk as I take in the scene before me.

"Don't stop on my account," I drawl. "This looks like it was just getting interesting. Even though we are meant to be busy doing something else." I glare at Tate in annoyance. I knew something was wildly off about the way he wanted us to split up to search for Poison. He had no intention of doing so, he just wanted to lose us so he could come over here and fuck the little blonde bitch without us knowing. I have to say, I'm impressed he has time for it after being with Poison. That woman knows how to wear a man out.

Tate growls and removes his fingers from her pussy. "What are you doing here?"

"Checking up on you. You are keeping secrets, but now I see why. She's not really your type, is she?" I throw the insult at the girl, and she narrows her eyes at me but doesn't say anything.

"Well, I'm fine. But a bit preoccupied," he snaps.

"We were in the middle of something, if you recall."

"I'm aware, but now I'm busy. I'm sure you and Bram can handle it." He smiles wickedly. "I'm not leaving here until I get what I came for."

"With her." I stare at her, but she avoids my gaze. "Is this a dare?"

"Maybe," Tate snaps and the girl's mouth drops open in shock as her eyes fill with anger.

I chuckle. "Well, far be it from me to interrupt a challenge. Hope it's worth it." I don't move, though. I stare at Tate and the blonde girl, my mind racing. Something doesn't add up here. Tate's never shown interest in anything like this plain little thing before, and now he's finger-fucking and kissing her against the wall after he's fucked Poison on the side of the road, and while we are meant to be looking for her. He is more fucked-up in the head than I first thought. Clearly, this little rendezvous that I've interrupted is more than it seems. I narrow my eyes, studying the blonde girl more closely. There's something I'm missing here. Tate is, well, Tate. He is not usually the kind of guy you catch with his hand up some random girl's cunt. Poison is different. That's a game, and about punishment. This is… odd.

"You know what?" I say, stepping fully into the house and closing the door behind me. "I think I'll stick around for a bit. Make sure you're not getting yourself into any trouble, Tate."

Tate's jaw clenches. "That won't be necessary. I've got this under control."

"Oh, I'm sure you do," I drawl, my gaze raking over the girl's barely covered body. "But where's the fun in that? Besides, I'm curious about your little friend here. What did you say your name was, sweetheart?"

The girl glares at me, her green eyes flashing with defiance. "I didn't."

I chuckle. "Feisty. I like that."

Tate steps between us, his body tense. "Back off, Torin. This has nothing to do with you."

I raise an eyebrow. "That's a bit possessive, isn't it? What happened to share and share alike."

When I take a step closer, I've definitely hit a nerve. Tate slams his hand to my chest, halting me mid-step. I smile slowly. I had no intention of going after this girl. No, Poison is a craving, but riling Tate up is proving to be more fun than I expected.

"Didn't you have somewhere else to be?" he growls.

"Didn't you? Or have you already forgotten about the hot piece of pussy we fucked on the side of the road earlier?" My gaze bores into the blonde's. She flinches, but almost on delay. Processing? Or did she already know about that? "Did you know, sweetheart? That Tate had his dick buried balls deep in another woman less than an hour ago? "

"She knows," Tate practically snarls at me. "So any trouble you're trying to cause here is pointless. Go, and I'll catch up with you later."

I'm about to protest and push Tate a bit more, but my phone rings in my pocket. Not the usual buzz, but a ringtone that has been set especially for… my dad.

Tate's eyes go straight to my pocket, because he knows as well as I do, I can't ignore that. Not usually, and especially not now. "You'd better get that," Tate states.

With a grimace, I pull my phone out and open the door before I answer it. "This isn't over. Not by a long shot," I growl at Tate and then slide my finger over the screen to connect the call, stepping outside and slamming the door behind me.

"Dad, where the fuck are you?"

"No time," he says, sounding oddly out of breath. "Someone is after me. Find out who?—"

The line goes dead, and I pull the phone away from my ear to stare at it. "Great," I mutter. "Like I didn't have enough to deal with."

Part of me, the part that doesn't give a fuck and wants my own power, thinks I should just leave him to it. The other half that has had loyalty beaten into me since I knew how to listen feels that I should perhaps have a look into it.

That dilemma is put to rest when my phone buzzes, and it's the mother of the year. "What?" I snap, answering it.

"Torin, this has gone on long enough. Your father is a waste of space. You need to come back home and take his place."

I blink into the darkness, wondering if I misheard her.

"Torin?" she yaps down the phone. "Are you there?"

"Yeah, but I'm not doing that," I say slowly and make a choice that I have no doubt will bite me in the arse. "Dad just rang me. He's in trouble. He said someone is after him and to find out who. Then he was cut off."

Silence.

A simmering, yet somehow frozen silence.

"Oh?" she drawls. "Is that what he said?"

"You don't believe him?"

"I don't make a habit of it, no."

"Well, look. That's between you two. I have a life at Thornfield, and I'm not about to give that up for your whims. I'll find Dad, bring him home, and you two can sort out whatever this shit is, once and for all." I hang up before she can reply. I have work to do, and there is only one surefire way of finding out who is after my dad. With a self-satisfied smile, I get in my car and head towards home.