Page 10 of Protecting His Queen

He reached forward to grab her wrist, using it to pull her toward him.

“What are you doing? Let me go.”

She tried to twist free of his grip, but he held firm, tugging her forward, around the table until she stood nearly touching him. She kept her body sideways, so it was only her shoulder and arm that made contact. The last thing she wanted was to have her breasts pressed against him. She needed to stop wearing bikinis all the time, because no matter how cool and comfortable they were on a hot summer’s day, she was beginning to hate the way so many men thought they could touch her however they pleased when she wore one.

“I know you’ve been slutting around with that Russian bastard, but enough games. You. Are. Mine. Always will be. So, cut the bullshit and come home.”

If she were a violent person, she’d sock him in the face for that comment. Inwardly, she sighed. Pity she wasn’t a fighter. Maybe she should take some lessons. It seemed like a good thing to know, how to knock a bastard on his arse. Pulling her thoughts back to the present, she frowned his way.

“Have you lost your damn mind? I’m not yours, and I will never be. Not ever again.”

With a sharp, fast movement, he twisted her hand up behind her, forcing her to lift on her toes with a gasp. Tears pricked her eyes at the pain that shot through her system. Yeah, maybe mouthing off and poking the crazy hadn’t been the best idea. But they were in a public place, dammit. Surely someone would see him hurting her and call the police.

“See that big bastard coming this way? He works for the man you let use your body. He’s had men following you all week. Did you know that? When he gets here, you need to tell him that you’re fine, that this is just a little lovers’ spat, and you don’t need his help.”

Like hell she would. At this point, she’d take anyone in this marketplace over her stupid ex. Her gaze stayed riveted to the man coming toward her. As he got closer, she recognised him as the guy who’d driven the car when Daniil took her home after their night together. What was his name? Viktor something?

“I suggest you take your hands off Julietta. Mr. Mikhailov will not be happy to hear you’ve hurt her.”

Holy shit. Daniil’s last name was Mikhailov? As in the Mikhailov Corporation that owned more real estate and businesses in and around Sydney than she could count? Everyone in Sydney knew that name. Hell, you’d have to have been living under a rock for the past ten years to not have.

“Juli is my fiancée, and we’re just having a little lovers’ spat. Isn’t that right, babe?”

He’d lowered her arm so she wasn’t forced to stand on her tiptoes, but he’d tightened his grip on her wrist to the point she wondered if he was going to break it. She gave Viktor a pleading look as she shook her head slightly.

“Please.”

She hoped Rodger thought she was agreeing with him while she prayed Viktor could see she wasn’t okay with this situation at all and would interfere. Hell, if Daniil’s man could get her away from Rodger safely, she’d agree to go on as many dates as the man wanted. He would have more than earned it.

After Julietta refused his dinner invitation for last night, Daniil had planned to surprise her as she finished up at the markets today. He was determined to take her out on a date, and he’d hoped that if he caught her in person, she wouldn’t be able to turn him down to his face.

That plan changed when he received a text from Viktor letting him know her bastard of an ex had approached her at her stall. He’d been at home, preparing things for her arrival later, but dropped it all to rush to the markets. Since their night together, he’d finally done a little digging into her past. She’d grown up tough even before her mother committed suicide when she’d been only eighteen. Rodger was one of only two serious boyfriends she’d ever had. He’d also confirmed that she’d walked out on her ex after he’d hit her. She was a strong woman, but he wasn’t sure if Rodger had something that would make her go back to him. No way would Daniil lose his girl to a womanising piece of shit who liked to use his fists on those weaker than himself.

Both Viktor and his cousin, Yury, worked for Daniil and lived in the guest house on his property. Yury was home, so Daniil grabbed him on his way out. He wanted to put a little show on to warn Rodger to not mess with his girl ever again. It was unfortunate that the place was too populated to take care of the issue in the way he’d really like to, but they’d make it work.

Within minutes, they were parked and rushing toward where he knew Julietta had her stall. They came up behind Rodger, who held his Julietta in what looked like a painful grip if the tense set of her shoulders was any indication. Viktor spotted them, and with a quick hand signal, told him he needed to move in fast.

“I’ll handle this myself.”

Normally, he would be fine to allow Yury to take care of any troublemakers of Rodger’s level, but he wanted this bastard to know he was not a man afraid of getting his hands dirty to protect what, or who, was his.

Daniil stalked up behind Rodger, and before the other man realised he was in trouble, Daniil reached up and wrapped his palm over the top of his shoulder, digging his fingers in hard above the man’s collarbone. With a curse, Rodger released Julietta and his shoulder slumped down with the pain Daniil was inflicting with his hold. Viktor quickly pulled her away from Rodger, gently guiding her over to the seat she had at the rear of her small stall. Daniil knew his friend would be assessing any injuries she might have.

“Consider this your only warning, Mr. Dirk. Touch what is mine again, and it will not end well for you. Do we understand each other?”

The little bastard tried to twist out of his hold, but Daniil kept his grip firm. This wasn’t Daniil’s first time doing something like this, as Rodger should well know. He gave the man a shake when he stayed silent.

“Juli is not yours. She’s mine. My fiancée!”

Daniil leaned down so his lips were close to Rodger’s ear. “You raised your fist to her, so that erased any claim you may have had. She no longer wears your ring, no longer wishes to have anything to do with you. Show some dignity and leave her alone. She will not be funding any of your endeavours ever again.”

Daniil wasn’t sure if Rodger realised he controlled most of the illegal gambling in this part of Sydney. The bastard should know with how much he gambled, but if he didn’t, he was about to find out because after this little stunt, along with his earlier attack on Julietta, Daniil would be making some phone calls. The reason his Julietta was currently stuck living in a share house with three other women was because this piece of shit had spent all her money placing bets on things he clearly knew nothing about.

Using his grip on his shoulder, Daniil turned him to face Yury.

“Yury, please make sure Mr. Dirk gets home safely.”

The grin on his friend’s face was not pleasant. Daniil quietly chuckled at the shudder that ran through Rodger’s body as he handed him over to Yury.

---