Page 150 of Unwritten Rules

I’d rather die first.

There were hired men from every fucking possible side at the game keeping tabs on everyone there. Every family was on high alert and Sloane hired as many men as possible–her men replaced the stadium securityandstaff. We got played.

Alexander was thrusted at Fallon to distract her. He wanted to play for keeps and power. The plan for him was to, what, get a chunk of her company? Get in the circle being created by the Whitmore family? If only my grandfather told me more, I’d be better prepared to do whatever it took to protect not only Chamberlain, but Fallon. She was integral to his plan–he just had his stupid fucking rules of not acting until the last minute.

But I didn’t think he had any moves to play. He was testing me to see what would happen. He was playing a fucking game with all of us. If hewasn’tactively fucking dying, I wouldn’t have a clue what he was doing. What was the goddamned play?

“What did Dave say?”

“Not much. He got her out in time and she’s at home right now. Your grandfather requests your presence.”

I threw my shoes across the locker room with as much force as I could. “Fuck his requests! What I’m concerned about is what thefuckhappened tomywoman! He can sit and fucking wither away in his office for all I care. Get your shit, we’re going.”

Fuck him and fuck his requests. Whatever he had could wait for all I cared. He could be dying in the hospital with the biggest company secret, and I wouldn’t have shown up.

Reaper took my keys from me and drove us back, muttering something about how dangerous I was when I was angry. I didn’t care. I’d commit every felony known to man if it meant I got to her. Nothing, and I mean nothing, would stop me.

I just about ripped the door from its hinges when we arrived. I wanted to know where she was immediately.

“She’s relaxing in her room,” James, her good-for-nothing bodyguard announced.

I ignored him. “Dave. Status?”

“You know most of the details. Found her half naked locked in a bathroom with that mouth breather, Fitzgerald.

Without thinking, I clocked James in the jaw. Reaper grabbed me and pulled me back before I could all out-execute his ass. “You fucker,” I hissed. “Dave, why weren’t you on top of her?”

“Simply stated: we were undermanned for this.” He looked guilty of the same that James was in my eyes, and I itched to beat the shit out of them both.

“All of you were in charge while I was in that fucking game playing along with the fucked up world, we’re in! I want extra men on her atalltimes. Never less than three. I can’t trust a fucking soul here.” I shot daggers at her bodyguard while Reaper gripped the shit out of me. “Get off me. I want to go fucking talk to her.” I raged against the hold he had on me.

Dave cleared his throat.

“Brent?”

She looked so beautiful in her pajamas. The last time I’d seen her felt like a lifetime ago. My body went limp at the sight of her, and I swore to myself that I wasn’t falling that hard for this girl, but I was.

“Blondie,” was all I could say when she took my breath away.

Reaper let me go and I ran to her and tossed her over my shoulder. She started beating my back just like she usually did, demanding to be let down. We spun in a circle before I set her down gently. I checked her body and looked for signs of damage.

My eyes landed on her face. Bruising formed. Gingerly, I brought my fingers up to check the swelling; I needed to feel her skin. “Who did this to you?”

Her eyes fell to the ground. “Alexander.”

I pulled her into me, the smell of her wet hair calming my nerves. She always used light floral scents and I loved how she smelled. I wanted her to consume me with flowers. “I will never let that piece of shit lay another hand on you. If I do, you can kill me yourself for failing to protect you.Neveragain.”

“It’s fine,” she mumbled. She looked embarrassed to be held like this in front of everyone. Not that it mattered who saw us at this point. The world was going to know that she was mine, and I would kill them for so much as thinking about her the wrong way.

Was it bad that I wanted my lips over every square inch of her body, relieving her of the memories of when I wasn’t there for her? I dragged her down the hallway so I could have her alone, even for just a few moments.

Behind her door, I couldn’t help but kiss the top of her head and hold her close to me again. Somewhere between when I told myself I wouldn’t get attached to her and now, she took my heart and held it inside her and she didn’t even know that she did.

She probably didn’t even like me.

“Tell me what happened. Whatever you want me to know.” I sat her down on her bed and knelt before her on the floor, giving her the full vantage point over me.

I played with her hands between us, massaging the fingers one by one while she stared at me, unable to form the words she wanted to speak. “It wasn’t fun, and I know you want to hear about it so you can go on your typical rampage, but...” she bit her lip and looked down at me before her.

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