Page 72 of Nothing Special X: The Last Stand

“I’ve had a man who owned me already, Corbin. I’m not interested in another.”

The second the words left his mouth, regret hit so violently he almost stumbled.

Syn blinked at him.

No explosion. No answer. Just a blink, slow and stunned.

Furi’s gut clenched.

Had he really just reached into the ugliest part of his past, dragged out the thought of his abusive ex-husband, and put Syn beside him?

How fucking dare he place Syn’s name anywhere near that man’s?

Syn had never tried to own or control him. Never raised a hand to him or made him feel small in order to feel big.

He covered his face with both hands, then dragged them back over his hair, squeezing his eyes shut. “I didn’t mean that,” he said, voice breaking. “Corbin, I’m so sorry. That was cruel. You didn’t deserve that. I was upset and scared…I didn’t mean it.”

Syn didn’t answer.

When Furi opened his eyes, Syn was bent behind the counter, then came back up holding a medium-sized suitcase.

Furi’s mind went white.

No. No, no, no. What the fuck?

Panic seized him so hard his chest forgot how to expand.

“No,” Furi said.

Syn reached for his keys.

“No, wait.” Furi moved before Syn could get around the counter, his body acting before pride had a chance to interfere. “Corbin, I’m sorry. I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to lie to you. I swear I’ll never do it again.”

Syn moved past him, luggage in one hand, keys in the other.

Furi leapt back into his path.

“Please,” he said, not caring he was begging. “Please, don’t go.”

Syn stopped.

They were close enough that Furi could see the pulse working in his jaw, the redness at the edges of his eyes. But Syn wouldn’t face him. His gaze landed everywhere except on his.

“I need some space,” Syn mumbled, his voice flat and defeated. “Time to think.”

“We need to talk about this.” Furi planted himself more firmly between Syn and the door. “We can work this out.”

Syn shook his head. “Move, Furi.”

“No.”

Syn’s eyes snapped up then and Furi saw everything. The betrayal. The humiliation. The rage.

“Don’t make me push past you,” he said quietly.

Furi reached for him anyway, closing both hands around Syn’s shoulders. “Corbin.”

Syn’s body went rigid. “Don’t,” he warned.