Before the last syllable left his mouth, he flipped his phone around. Fay's photo filled the screen.
She was draped in sheer black lingerie, her gaze heavy-lidded and seductive.
A completely different woman from the cold, untouchable image she showed the world.
Toby's lips curled into a slow, satisfied smirk. His expression was thick with the pleasure of someone reliving a private memory.
My pupils contracted.
Every drop of blood in my body felt like it had reached a boil.
In that moment, composure was no longer an option. Rage incinerated every last shred of reason I had left.
I swung. My fist connected with his face.
That single punch cost me two years in prison.
"Ha ha ha—"
The memory shattered. I was back in the restaurant, and Toby was still laughing, still gloating.
The rest of the diners joined in, their laughter bouncing off the walls.
Every single one of them was enjoying the spectacle of my humiliation.
My gaze went ice-cold. I whipped my head sideways, wrenching free of the hand still gripping my chin.
In the split second of stunned silence that followed, I threw my weight forward and broke loose from both guards.
"You never learn, do you."
"Seems like enough time has passed that you've forgotten what it felt like when I shattered your nose. Let me refresh your memory."
My stare was razor-sharp, my voice cold enough to freeze hell over.
For one instant, the sheer force rolling off me locked every person in the room in place. The laughter died.
Toby met my eyes and the color drained from his face.
"You wouldn't dare!"
"You want to go back to prison?!"
A cold smile tugged at my lips. "Try me."
I ignored his threat. Under the horrified, disbelieving stares of everyone in the room, I drove my fist straight into Toby's face.
"AAGH—"
He staggered back two steps, both hands flying to his nose, a shrill howl tearing from his throat.
Two streams of blood surged through the gaps between his fingers.
"You dare hit me?!"
Toby was equal parts stunned and furious.
He never imagined that after everything I'd been through in prison, I'd still have the nerve to lay a hand on him.
The restaurant manager rushed over, letting out a cold scoff:
"Open your damn eyes and take a look at where you are. You think you can start trouble here? You must have a death wish."
Toby had been injured in his restaurant.
If Fay Galloway came asking questions, he'd have no way to explain himself.