Page 54 of Under Pressure

“What the fuck do you think this is? A sharing circle?” He grabbed at her hand, causing her to wince. In a low growl, he moved the conversation on, “Now, I’ve seen enough shit. I’m handling things from now on. You are under my protection. You will stay here.”

“What?” She pulled back, stunned. “Here?”

“Right here.” He tapped the countertop behind her.

“Fuck, no.”

She slid away from him and toward the door. But, swift as hell, Delta pounced, planting himself in the doorframe, snarling down on Kendra as she tried to get out.

“You can’t leave”—he crossed his arms, emotionless—“until I say so.”

“Get out of my way.” She pushed to get around him, grabbing at the door handle, but he slammed his hand on the doorframe, trapping her in place once again.

That savage look crossed his face, startling and unnerving her as they locked eyes. Whatever darkness came across his face quickly turned menacing, and she saw the real Matteo Valente for the first time—the fighter, the warrior, in battle, ready to rock. She tried to push his arms aside, to free herself—but he wouldn’t yield.

Nervously glancing around, she realized she didn’t stand a chance.

“Is that all you can think to offer me? A cage?” she cried out.

Something in his face twisted as he snapped back, “Well, what the hell do you want?”

“Maybe more than just a one-night stand?” She cracked, tears falling from her eyes.

“It was good enough for you at the time,” he roared, fierce and brash.

“No, it wasn’t. And it will never be.”

Never. That word ricocheted for a split second, and suddenly, she heard a snap, and realized that with a single-handed grip and a cruel look in his eye, he’d shattered the double-thick wood doorframe, sending wood fragments and splinters into the air. The door fell open, no longer held in place by anything.

“That’s not possible,” she breathed, panicking.

Then Delta lost all control. The man she knew vanished and a savage animal stood in his place, muscles tensing as he stared her down, hungry in the worst way. Something was happening to him right before her eyes. A deep, predatory growl escaped his throat as he dropped his head to take her mouth with his, but she dove to the side, terrified.

“Please, God—please, no.”

He let her go.

Gasping for air, Kendra bolted, lunging from the broken doorway, running out toward her car, which was parked on the road. Hyperventilating, she fumbled to get the car door open, then slammed it behind her as she started the engine. Still in disbelief, she couldn’t process how his ferocious grip had snapped the doorframe clean in half. It just wasn’t possible.

In the mirror, she could see Delta’s hulking frame trailing down the driveway, his face cold and intent—staring at her.

“Please, please, please,” she cried to herself as she nervously put her car into gear, pleading for something she wasn’t ready to admit.

All she could think about was her baby, and what the hell he’d inherited from his father.

Chapter Twenty

“Are you paying for the monitoring service?” The technician wiped sweat from his brow as he stood from the front door, drill in hand.

“I am,” Kendra replied, watching him connect the wires to her new security system. “Full monitoring with video.”

He took his card out of his pocket, handing it to her. “This is the best system on the market. You won’t have to worry about nothing. I’ll get you registered.”

She held his business card, feeling the hard edges. It was the first time in her life she’d felt the need to install a comprehensive security system in her home, and she’d lived in LA for a long time. She wasn’t sure if it was Delta or Hunter that had changed that need, maybe both—but she had to protect herself.

And her family.

The distant sound of a baby crying flooded the house.

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