Page 109 of Sadistic

I step away before he can touch me, still angry, but I can't deny the relief flooding through me at his presence.

My body betrays me, wanting to lean into his protection even as my mind rebels against it.

Doran's voice is deadly calm. "You have something to say to me?"

"I said it to her." Bembe picks up the jewelry box, offers it to me again. "Twenty-four hours for a public apology, or I collect on the insult."

"Touch her and?—"

"And what?" Bembe's mask slips completely now. "You'll start a war over a woman? How very... romantic. And how very stupid."

He sets the box on the counter with deliberate care. "My wedding gift. Use it or not."

He starts to leave, then pauses, looking directly at me. "Ask him why he really needed this marriage so quickly. The truth might surprise you."

What the fuck is that supposed to mean?

Then he's gone, his men melting away into the Saturday shopping crowd like they were never there.

The whole encounter couldn't have lasted more than five minutes, but I feel like I've aged years.

"We're leaving," Doran announces. "Now."

The words explode out of me, six days of anger and fear erupting. "I told you I needed space!"

"That was before he threatened you."

"Everything is 'before' something with you!" I'm yelling now, not caring about the stares from other shoppers. "Before threats, before danger, before you decide what's best for everyone!"

"Revna, this isn't the place?—"

"When is the place, Doran? When do I get to have an opinion that matters?" I'm shaking with fury and fear and six days of bottled emotion. "I'm not one of your subordinates you can just order around!"

"I'm trying to protect you?—"

"I don't need protection! I need a partner who treats me like an equal!"

"You need to be alive to be equal," he snaps back. "That man just threatened your entire family."

"Because of a decision you made without me!"

A crowd is gathering now, shoppers drawn to the drama like moths to flame.

Someone's definitely filming this on their phone.

Dalla steps between us. "Okay, both of you need to stop. We're in the middle of Nordstrom and security is coming."

She's right.

A uniformed guard is heading our way, hand on his radio.

The last thing we need is mall security getting involved in a Bratva-MC-Cartel situation.

Doran visibly controls himself, hands flexing like he wants to grab me and shake sense into me.

Or kiss me. Or both. "Please. Let's go somewhere safe to discuss this."

"No." I grab Dalla's arm. "We're leaving. Without you."

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