Broken Trouble (Broken Storm Series Book 1)

Chapter 4

I sat across the table from Gavin and knew deep in my gut that dinner wasn't going to go well.

As soon as everyone had begun to sit down, Gavin had shoved Landon out of the way so he could sit down directly in front of me. Polly and Chili were still in the kitchen and hadn't seen the by-play, so Landon added a few choice words while glaring at Gavin.

The scowl Gavin sent my way burned into my face. I tried not to look at him. I figured if I ignored him, then there was a chance he wouldn't bother me as much. I pretended he didn't exist, and that there was no one sitting in front of me at all.

I could do this, I just had to ignore everything that came out of his mouth.

Everyone got their food and said Grace, before digging into their food.

The table stayed in comfortable silence until Gavin finally spoke, unable to hold his words in any longer, "I'll need to borrow your car tomorrow to go get a part for the truck, Polly."

Polly nodded and smiled, "Of course, Honey. I'll go with you; I need to pick up a few things from the store."

"Hopefully your car won't break down too. She steps foot on the ranch and suddenly everything starts going up in flames and breaking down," Gavin griped and I could feel his stare intensify.

"Gavin, the truck breaking down wasn't her fault. Stop being such a moron," Jayden snapped.

"She's got you all wrapped around her finger and you're too blind to see what a fucking witch she is! Does no one else see what's going on here? She's going to fuck up everything we've worked so hard to build here and she won't stop until everything we have is gone!"

"Gavin, calm down and don't speak to her like that," Chili ordered, his fiery attitude finally showing itself through his usual calm and relaxed personality, "We agreed to let her come here and help out, so that's what she's doing. The boys say she's doing a fine job too."

"You all are so naive. Just because she acts nice doesn't mean she is!" The vein in Gavin's neck pulsed and his eyes were wide in anger. His eyes turned on me and he leaned over the table towards me, "I'm going to burn your world to ash just like you did ours and when I'm done with you, you'll just be a scared little girl crying for mommy."

I resisted the urge to react. Comments about fire always prodded those deep wounds that still festered inside of me, but his comment about me calling for my mom? That was the last straw.

Slowly, I raised my head to meet his eyes, my mouth twisting into a sneer, "You can try and try with all your might to burn down my world, but I think you'll quickly find that I don't have anything left to be destroyed. So go ahead and go up against me, because if you want a war then I'll give you one and trust me, you have a lot more to lose than I do."

"Bring it bitch," Gavin growled, his eyes flashing dangerously.

"Okay, that's enough! Gavin, go to your room. Now," Polly ordered, her smile gone and brows furrowed in anger.

"I live here, I'll go to my room when I want," Gavin snapped at Polly, who raised her eyebrows and gave him a withering stare.

"To your room, now."

Gavin shoved back his chair, knocking it backwards onto the floor as he stormed off, grumbling under his breath.

After he was gone, everyone sat in uncomfortable silence.

My stomach had twisted itself into knots, like it usually did when I got upset, and I was no longer hungry. I was disappointed in myself. I hadn't lost control over myself in years and it was embarrassing to have yelled at Gavin in front of strangers. The room seemed to close up around me and I knew I needed to get away from everyone. There were way too many people here, watching me and no doubt judging me.