Page 18 of Sold to the Beret

He pauses mid-punch, a muscle ticking furiously in his jaw. I can tell he’s barely holding himself back from doing more damage to Henry’s bloody face. “If you ever come near my woman or even dare to breathe the same air as her, I’ll fucking slit your throat,” he says to Henry, his voice deathly cold.

He stands up slowly and turns in my direction, his hard gaze instantly softening. He walks toward me and cups my cheeks in his palms. “I’m so glad you’re safe, princess,” he says tenderly, gently caressing my neck with his thumb, then he closes his eyes as if in torment.

My breath catches. “Damien,” I rasp.

He opens his eyes and my heart tightens at the despair in them. “If I’d been a minute too late, I…I don’t know what I would do,” he whispers.

I grip his wrist. “I’m fine. I’m okay,” I say, looking into his eyes. My chest tightens painfully at the guilt I see there. “I’m fine. Do you hear me?”

He nods.

“How did you find me?” I ask hoarsely.

“It was a gamble, but I figured you’d go back home,” he answers, then continues gruffly, “Let’s go, princess. We can’t stay here.”

“Okay.”

The drive home is silent. It’s impossible to guess what’s going on behind his expressionless façade, but I glance down at our joined hands, my heart skipping happily. He hasn’t let go once since he took my hand. Soon, we arrive at his apartment building and Damien pulls into the garage, only letting go of my hand when he gets out of the car. He comes around to the passenger side to open the door and reclaims my hand. Wordlessly, we walk into the elevator and head up to the penthouse.

I exhale softly as we enter the cozy and spacious living room.Home.

Before I can say anything, Damien pulls me into his arms, hugging me tight against his chest.

“I’m sorry, princess,” he whispers against my hair. “I shouldn’t have kept your mother’s death from you. My carelessness almost cost you your life. I’m so sorry.”

My hands tighten around him, knowing my anger went out the window the moment I almost died. “I know you did it to protect me. You don’t have to apologize.”

“I keep seeing his hands around your neck,” Damien rasps, visibly shuddering. “It’s like a never-ending loop in my mind. I could’ve lost you.”

I pull back slightly, keeping my arms looped around his waist. “I’m okay, Damien. I’m alive.”

His eyes soften, suddenly filled with a vulnerability that melts my soul. “I love you, Rose,” he says softly, his gaze unwavering. “I love you deeply. Madly.”

My stomach flutters and tears well up in my eyes at his simple but soul-shattering words. And looking at those steady and intense dark eyes, I realize that I can’t wait to spend the rest of my life with him. “I love you too, Damien.”

He smiles softly and lowers his mouth to mine, taking over my lips hungrily. The kiss is deep and tender as he slowly savors my lips, sending sharp bites of pleasure through my veins. I break the kiss and lean forward until our foreheads meet.

“Damien, I feel something isn’t right about my mom’s death. I think…I think Jared had something to do with it,” I whisper.

He straightens and gives me a puzzled look. “Why do you think so?” he asks.

I tell him about the conversation I eavesdropped on with my mom and her doctor, and also Jared’s incriminating words when I confronted him. “I need your help,” I say softly.

“And you’ll have it,” he says darkly, tenderly gathering me into his arms.

Jared Fields has taken everything from me. My childhood. And now my mother. This time I won’t let it go.

Chapter Nine

Damien

I crawl out of bed at the crack of dawn and silently pull on the jeans I discarded on the floor last night. My gaze stays on Rose, taking in the finger marks around her neck, and my gut clenches at the near miss she had yesterday.

I could have lost her…

A deep well of anger surges through me as I think of the bastard who put his hands on her. He should be dead, but there are other ways to get him.

I gently lean over Rose and glide my gaze over her gorgeous features—her long lashes resting over creamy skin, her perfect nose and soft, pink lips. A wave of tenderness fills me, and I know my feelings for her will only grow deeper. I lean in to kiss her gently on her lips, reveling in her honeydew scent.

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