Page 40 of His to Keep
I just need some time to figure out what to do.
But time doesn’t seem to be on my side. No sooner does the thought cross my mind then I hear the sound of the building’s front door bang open. Luke is standing there in the entrance to the vestibule, his face like a thundercloud. He looks like he rushed out of the house before he finished dressing. He’s wearing his suit pants and a white button down, no jacket or tie. He’s slightly out of breath and I wonder if he ran here. Then his eyes go to Aden’s hands still tight on my arms and I know the morning’s problems are far from over.
Luke
Ihaven’t been in a fight—a real one—in years. Not since I was a teenager growing up on the wrong side of the tracks. I was a shrimpy kid, short and skinny, with two little sisters to look after. Money was tight and things like trendy clothes were far down the list of necessities. And kids can be dicks. Which meant I spent an awful lot of time learning how to fight and defend myself and my family.
I left that life behind with the first million dollar deal I ever made. But there’s not a force on Earth that’s going to stop me from beating the shit out of the bastard with his hands on my girl.
I tear my eyes from the sight that’s making me see red to look at Rebecca’s face. “You okay?”
She nods, but she looks pale. Pale and scared. God, I am going to rip him limb from limb.
“Get your fucking hands off her.”
“This really isn’t your concern, Davis,” Roth says smoothly. “I’m not sure what she’s told you, but Rebecca is my submissive—”
“Not anymore she’s not.”
He makes a tsking noise and looks down at her, a sickeningly sweet expression on his face. “Oh, pet. Don’t tell me you kept up the ruse.”
She glares at him and I’m so proud to see that fire still in her eyes. “What are you talking about?”
Roth looks back to me. “It’s a predilection of mine,” he explains in a chummy voice that makes me want to pound his face in. “Sharing my subs. I think it’s a good way to help them remember their place, you know? Passing them around reminds them who’s in control.”
“I’m going to say this one more time.” I’m surprised by how even my voice is when there’s murder in my heart. “Get your hands off her.”
He does so immediately, holding his hands up like he’s innocent. “I’m sorry for the misunderstanding, man. She wasn’t supposed to let you get attached. Her task was to submit to you and then come home and tell me all about it.” He shrugs, still with that chummy smile, like he thinks there’s anything in this world we have in common. “I admit I get off on it. Making her tell me about the other guys while I spank her. She likes it too.” He gives me a knowing look. “You know how some of these sluts get into the degradation.”
Rebecca’s eyes go wide, mouth dropping open. I can tell she’s about to argue with him, to defend herself, but there’s no need. There’s not a thing this prick could tell me about her that I would believe. I know Rebecca. She’s mine.
“Baby, come here,” I say, struggling now to keep my voice calm. I want to scream at him to never look at her again, never even think of her, but I need to make sure she’s safe first.
She starts to edge around him, but he blocks her path. “You’re not forgetting what we just talked about?” he asks in a low voice. I see the fear register in her eyes as she darts her gaze to me. The rage in my chest grows hot and thick, threatening to choke me.
“Move, asshole,” I growl. When he looks like he’s going to refuse, I step forward. I have a good three inches on this lowlife. More importantly, I know enough about Aden Roth to know he’s never done a day of real work in his life. He might make himself feel big and bad by terrorizing submissive women, but I can pretty much guarantee this man doesn’t have a tough bone in his body.
He must have several stupid ones though, because he leans his head toward her before letting her pass. “Don’t forget what I said,” he hisses.
I add that to the list of things I’m going to destroy him for but keep my focus on Rebecca as she finally squeezes past him and darts to my side. She’s shaking. The fucker scared her so bad she’s shaking. He’s dead.
Roth smoothes his hands over his overpriced suit, tugging on the lapels in a self important manner that tells me everything I need to know about the guy. He’s bluffing, his smooth persona an act. He’s scared about something and trying to hide it.
“Go out to the car,” I tell Rebecca, hoping like hell that Mick found a place to park. He called me as he drove away from her building to let me know there was a man waiting for Rebecca. They seemed to know each other, and he didn’t see the guy put his hands on her, but something about the situation gave him pause. By the time he called me, he was already cursing his decision to drive away. In rush hour traffic, he was going to have to circle back around to get a parking spot. I told him to get to her as soon as he could then left my penthouse, running the half mile between our buildings.
I shudder to think what would have happened if I’d been a few minutes later.
“I’m not leaving,” she says firmly.
“I said go.” It’s everything I can do to instill my tone with dominance while remaining calm. I want nothing more than to throw her over my shoulder and force her into the car, tying her up if necessary, so I can deal with the shit stain in front of us.
She steps in front of me, her eyes fierce as she holds my gaze. “I’m not leaving you alone to do something stupid.”
“I’m not going to do something stupid,” I bite out. “I’m going to deal with this.” When she doesn’t move, I grit my teeth, hard. “Ineedto deal with this, Rebecca.”
Something flickers in her gaze. “WellIneed you to come with me,” she whispers. “I need you to not leave me alone right now.”
God damn it. How am I supposed to deny that?
