Page 17 of Nova

A curt nod is all I get.

I kiss her temple and glance over my shoulder at the asshole who is going to be missing a hand tonight when I’m through with him.

“All good over here?” Jack asks as Gladys hugs a friend.

“NO,” I growl at the guy standing and looking at Jack for help.

“Who is that?” I move Simone between us to shield her from his view.

“Fuck, that’s my brother John.” I close my eyes at the tense tone of Jack’s words.

“Out of respect to you, I won’t touch him, but I suggest you advise him to keep his fucking hands to himself.” Jack’s eyes widen, but he nods.

I’ve known him since college and heard stories of his brother, but I have never met him. The man has no boundaries, thinking he’s God’s gift to women. He’s been in trouble a few times, including when his parents almost went bankrupt to keep him out of jail, but that was in his late teens.

Clearly, age has not guaranteed his wisdom.

“He gives me the creeps,” Simone shivers in my arms, and I regret making that promise to Jack.

“I’ll be the only man touching you tonight, Dove. You have my word.”

Chapter

Six

SIMONE

“I’m going to freshen up,” I smile at Maddox as I point toward the bathrooms.

“Of course. I’ll wait here.” I nod, head down the hall, and sigh in relief when the door is closed on my back.

I dampen some paper towels and place them on my neck as I take some long, deep breaths.

I can still feel the creeper’s fingers on my arm. The area is cold, and my skin is raised with goosebumps. I curl my hands around the sink and struggle not to puke at the look in that guy’s eyes as he spoke to me in the Chapel.

A loud bang outside the door makes me jump.

“What the hell?” I reach for the door tentatively and peak through a sliver of a crack.

My eyes widen at the scene.

“Johnny boy, was I unclear before?” Maddox has the man up against the wall by his neck.

The man sputters as he tries to answer but can’t get enough air.

“See, I promised your brother I wouldn’t hurt you.” Maddox pulls him away from the wall, and I clutch my stomach, thanking the universe that he’s letting him go.

“But then you went and followed her down this dark corridor.” Maddox shoves him back suddenly, making the man’s head bang against the wall.

I yelp and quickly cover my mouth to try and hide the noise.

“Simone is a beautiful woman, but if you touch what’s mine again,” Maddox punches him hard before slamming his head into the wall again and then turns his eyes to the door right where I’m watching him.

“I’ll break every bone in your hand,” he hisses the last part right before he throws the man on the floor, where he crumbles in on himself, gasping for air.

“Clean yourself up, and don’t forget to pick up your teeth.” He drops a business card on the floor next to him.

So that was the white I saw fly past after the punch.

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