Torn - Part Two (The Torn Series) by Ellen Callahan Read Free Book Online Page B

what-the-fuck-ever.”
     
    Riley squinted at me as the words poured out - more for my damn lack of resolve than for the invitation itself. He hadn’t given her a good reason to dislike him just yet but there was still time. Hell, he’d joked with her as soon as I made the introductions. “Damn, girl, you’re way out of his league. He’s about three fights away from being downright ugly.”
     
    She snorted. At least it wasn’t an outright laugh. If Tony managed to win her over even just a little I didn’t think I’d be able to stand it.
     
    “So, what has my little brother told you about me?” he asked as we slipped into a booth at a nearby diner. I sat next to Riley, with Tony across from us.
     
    “Not a thing,” she said brightly, opening a menu. I put a hand on her knee - she was shaking it up and down in her usual nervous fashion and it was working on my already irritated nerves. She bit her lip and I shot her a reassuring smile.
     
    “Sorry, Tony, can’t say I spend much time talking about you,” I said.
     
    “He hasn’t said much about you, either,” Tony said, ignoring my jab. “Surprising. If I had a girl like you, I’d be bragging to everyone.” She pulled a face, but I could tell but the slight tinge of pink on her cheeks that his flattery had an effect, however small. Few were immune. Hell, it was one way the two of us were alike, though I hated to admit it. We knew how to turn on the charm. He gestured at her and said to me, “Hey, is this the one you said was over? Or is this something new?”
     
    My fists and jaw clenched. He really was trying to goad me into flipping the fuck out, and in front of Riley and everyone else in that diner. It was working. I was on the edge of violence already.
     
    “Hey,” Riley cut in, putting her hand over mine. “Why can’t we be nice? We can talk about how much we all love bacon, how about that?”
     
    Tony watched her speak with an eyebrow up, but at least the smirk was gone. “All right,” he said, turning to his menu. “Bacon it is.” She’d diffused him for the moment, thank god. My fists relaxed.
     
    “So what do you do, Tony?” she asked once we’d placed our orders. Pancakes and bacon and eggs arrived one plate at a time. She picked at hers nervously while she waited for his answer.
     
    “I’m a fighter like your boyfriend here,” he said, pointing with his fork. I cringed. I wasn’t her “boyfriend” and I didn’t need him planting that idea in her head.
     
    Though if we weren’t boyfriend and girlfriend then what the hell were we? I wanted her to be exclusive and I was certain she expected the same, even if just for the short-term. But we hadn’t really spoken about it. Later. Or never. I hated titles, anyway.
     
    “Oh,” she said, “I suppose I should have guessed. You two look so similar.”
     
    He winked. Motherfucker. “Did he tell you about our match?”
     
    “No.” She turned to me. “You guys are gonna fight? Is that the big fight you’ve been talking about?”
     
    “Aha,” Tony said before I could get a word in. “So you have talked about me.” He looked between us. “Sort of.”
     
    I wanted to get out of there so bad, my feet itched. “Yes, that’s the fight I’ve mentioned. No, I haven’t talked about you. You self-absorbed piece of shit.”
     
    Riley sat up straighter with alarm, but Tony sat back and chuckled. “Hit a sore spot, did I?” He gestured at me with his fork as he spoke to Riley. “He’s got his panties in a twist because I’m gonna beat him. Always have and always will. Poor sucker keeps coming back for more.” He shook his head. “I’d skip watching this fight, sweetheart, he ain’t gonna be so pretty when I’m through with him.”
     
    She looked between us. “So why do this?” she asked. “If you’re so intent on kicking each other’s asses. Why hang out and pretend like you’re gonna play nice and then just snipe at each other? Why not just save it