Page 61 of Hostile Rival
“Don’t shoot, Dré,” I bite out, gasping for more air, drilling my eyes into Dani’s, and finding a broken paradise in the remoteness of her glare. “Trust me, little firecracker. We aren’t going to hurt you.”
“Like fuck I won’t,” Dré barks, launching himself at us and fisting her hair, mercilessly yanking her head backward. “She’s strangling you, Mat, for fuck’s sake.”
My temper catches fire, the black blobs behind my eyes turning to sparks. I flick my leg out, kicking him away from us, then manage to peel her fingers from my throat.
Taking her face in my hands, I secure her head before me. “Look at me,” I say firmly. “Look at me. It’s Matheus.”
André steps closer and motions to our guys to keep their aim.
“Back off, Dré…Soldiers…” I grit out. “Stand down. Lower your weapons. That’s a fucking order.”
Dani stares at me, the realization on her face twisted with pain. “Matheus––I––” Her voice trembles, my name recognizable as a safe place.
“Who the fuck is she?” André stands to his full height, towering over us with his gun pointed to the floor.
I shove my fingers into the sweat laden hair at her nape and gently bump our foreheads together, inhaling the coppery aroma of death and fine wine. “She’s one of us, Dré. That's all you need to know.”
André sinks to his haunches and stares right at her. “You killed all of those men by yourself?”
She nods, trying her best to pull away from me. The awareness of her mind blip settles heavily between us. I can’t change who I am, and she’d always hate my family.
I clamp my hand around her waist and lock her in place, tight to me.
“Impressive,” he says, thoughtfully. “What’s your name, little one?”
“Buffy,” she replies, her tone scratchy and void of emotion now.
My brother scratches his coarse haired jaw. “Right…now I get it. You were at Blackwater.” He glances over his shoulder to see how many of our soldiers are nearby. “And for that alone, you deserve our protection. Why did those men bring you down here?”
She swallows hard and clears her throat. “That’s confidential.”
André’s gaze cuts to mine. “Confidential. Are you fucking kidding me? Is that all you two can say? Christ, Mat, you’re Gio’s protégé alright.”
I swallow down the compliment, and slowly rise, tucking Dani neatly by my side, where she belongs.
“I might not be part of your secret army, but you need to tell me what the hell is going on.” He adds.
Dani tries to hide her obvious discomfort when she straightens, swearing under her breath, and shivering uncontrollably, exhaustion zapping the last dregs of her energy.
“Drop it, Dré. Let’s get out of here first.”
André shoves his gun into the holster snug to his white shirt and reaches for his smokes. “How the fuck am I meant to drop it when you just started a war with our hosts and Sinéad expects us to have made an alliance with them? Just give me one reason and I’ll blow this palace to smithereens, brother.”
I shrug out of my tux jacket, turn into Dani and drape it over her shoulders, helping her stuff her arms into the sleeves. “Giana fucked with me,” I tell him, my voice thick from the effort of holding back.
All I want to do is sweep this woman into my arms and take her home. Instead, I have to hide the fact she’s my obsession. “Do you think Papá would let them walk all over us without consequences?”
My brother cocks his head, his eyes all over Dani. He’s not stupid. But now isn’t the time. “Looks like she fucked with her…not you.”
I rake my fingers through my hair, my patience fraying. “Look, Dré,” I bite out through clenched teeth. “Can we talk about this later? Those fuckers are still up there thinking they can invite us into their home and do this…” My eyes scan the fallen soldiers—ours and theirs. “They started this. Not us.”
Dani blinks up at me and tries to speak, but her voice doesn’t materialize. I slide my hand around her shoulders, effortlessly scooping her into my arms, aware of the way her muscles go rigid, and a fist thumps my chest.
Knowing her, I get why she refuses to relax while I take control. I shouldn't force her to succumb to the heat of my body, but how else do I show her how I’m feeling inside?
“Please…don’t…carry me,” she whisper-croaks. “Let me walk…I’m not a victim.”
I shake my head and start stepping over corpses. “The dead guys are the only victims here. You're barefoot and there’s broken glass everywhere. Not to mention the fact you actually tried to strangle me for real. Which means you don't get to argue with me, little firecracker,” I tell her quietly, out of earshot. “I’ve got you now and no one will fuck with you ever again.” She sighs and my chest tightens. “Why didn’t you call in and get help?”
