Page 31 of Property of Chux

The air shifts.

Riot and I exchange a look. This just got a whole lot worse.

I exhale through my nose, rubbing my jaw. “So you’re saying she’s got a target on her back.”

Konstantin inclines his head. “From home, yes.”

I drag a hand through my hair. “Jesus Christ.”

“I suggest you return her to me,” he continues, his tone deceptively gentle. “Before they come looking.”

Riot steps forward, placing both hands on the table. “You want her back to protect her, or to hand her over?”

Konstantin’s smile is slow, careful. “Does it matter?”

Alaina squeezes my hand as I feel the trembles over take her. Rage consumes me. This backstabbing motherfucker has zero loyalty not even to family.

I don’t blink. “To her, it does.”

Silence stretches between us.

Then Konstantin stands, adjusting his collar. “You have twenty-four hours. After that, I can no longer guarantee her safety.”

I push out of my chair. “Good thing I can.”

He chuckles, turning for the door. “Then I hope, for your sake, that’s true.”

With that, he disappears into the dark, his men following behind.

The second the door closes, I let out a breath. “Well, fuck.”

Riot rubs the back of his neck. “Yeah.”

Alaina lets out a huff. “How can he leave me like this?” He didn’t give me a single answer and I’m in a world I don’t understand, she whispers as we stand and I pull her against me.

“You’re gonna be safe with me, sweetheart.”

“And if I don’t stay with you?”

“I can’t do what I need to do unless I have you with me and where I know I can keep you out of the crossfire.”

“Are you going to force me?”

I shake my head. “Not a nice guy, not that kind of man though. You should know, you choose to walk away, sweetheart, that’s it.” The truth hurts, but it’s the way I’m cut. I don’t do games. I don’t do seconds. When someone turns their back on me, walks away, there is no coming back. “Baby, I got an attraction. Wanna see how this fire between us can be, but I won’t beg. I damn sure won’t chase. And if you walk away, I never look back. Second chances don’t come in my life.”

She steps away. “I need a minute, Damian. I need to process what just happened.”

I nod and she backs away. She paces the small club space staying within my line of sight.

Good girl.

I glance back at the empty club, then at my brother. “You think she’s gonna run?”

Riot shakes his head. “I think she’ll fight this pull you got going on. But I think she’s got it as bad for you as you got for her. In the end she’s smart. She’ll sit tight until we can figure out who the debt is to and pay it off.”

I grin, despite the shitstorm brewing. “Yeah. She’s gonna taste sweet, fuck me sweeter, and only if she asks me will I spare Konstantin my wrath.”

CHAPTER 12

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