Page 27 of Liberating Bells
“Yeah, I know. Sounds like her future groom is a real winner. Sage hates the guy. But what are you gonna do? Sage hates most men.”
I chuckle. Before I get the chance to respond, I hear the front lobby door ding. I sit up straight and peer out my door. Usually, Lori would be the one to greet any visitors immediately, but she is out sick today, leaving me the only one in the office.
Mark’s tall form comes into view as he steps farther into the lobby. He glances around the office, and then his attention catches on me sitting at my desk. I narrow my eyes at him. Speak of the devil.
“Hey, Teddy, I gotta go. Izabel’s fiancé just walked in,” I mutter into the phone, my voice low so Mark doesn’t hear me.
“Oh, fuck. Good luck, man. Catch me up later!” The line clicks dead, leaving me and Mark Snyder alone.
“Marky Mark,” I say as the culprit walks into my office, his signature sneer on his face. “What can I do for you?
Mark comes in and stands a few feet in front of me. He’s dressed in a neatly pressed suit, his hands stuck in his pockets, thumbs sticking out toward me. He frowns as he observes my workspace.
“Just thought I’d come see where all the magic happens,” he says, contempt laced in his tone.
I stand up so that he’s not talking down to me and step around the desk to lean on the edge. I’m hit with déjà vu as Izabel was standing in the same spot not too long ago. That conversation was much more pleasant than I’m sure this one is going to be.
“Well, here it is,” I say and motion around the room. “Now, why don’t we skip the formalities, and you tell me why you’re really here.”
Mark hits me with a steely glare. “I know she went to see you Saturday night.”
Shock reverberates through me, but I keep my face neutral. Did she tell him? Does he know I kissed her? No, she wouldn’t have done that.
“How could you possibly know that?” I ask him, not giving anything away with my expression.
Mark frowns even more at my question, his dark eyebrows pulling together. “Thatis none of your business.”
The hair on the back of my neck stands up. I do not like this guy one bit.
“Is that all you wanted to say? I have work that needs to get done. So if that’s it…” I growl.
Mark smirks. “I’d like you to stay away from Izabel. I don’t think she needs you as a distraction. We both have a lot going on, and I don’t need her ex-boyfriend sniffing around.”
I cross my arms over my chest. “Did she say that? I’ll be happy to stay away as long as that’s whatshewants.”
“Iam who she wants now. Look, Miller, just because you didn’t know how to keep her in line doesn’t mean I’ll allow the same thing to happen,” he snarls at me. My spine goes rigid at his words.
“Keep her in line?She’s not your pet to train, Mark. Or have you forgotten how a relationship works?”
“All I know is that things between Izabel and me were perfect until you came back to town. So I need you to stay away from her. We’re getting married, and I won’t have you jeopardize that.”
“If that’s what she wants, then I’ll stand down. But until then, you don’t get to control me like you do her.”
Mark takes another step toward me and sneers. “Donotmess with me, Miller. I promise you won’t like the outcome.”
I stand up straighter and step forward as well. We face off nose-to-nose like a pair of territorial dogs, threatened by each other’s every movement. Mark’s taller than I am, but still, I’ve got muscle where he’s lankier. In a showdown, I’m pretty sure I could take him.
“Is that a threat, Mark?”
He chuckles deep in his throat. “You always were such a cocky little shit. Always used to getting exactly what you wanted.”
“And?”
“And now I have the one thing you don’t. So just remember that next time you want to cross paths, Ryan.” He turns on his heel and heads toward the door. Then he stops and faces me again. “And no, Ryan. It wasn’t a threat. It was a promise. Stay the fuck away from Izabel. Otherwise, things are going to get messy.”
I watch him walk out of my office, my upper lip curling, and my skin crawling with hispromise. Energy courses through my veins—a raging fire trying to burst through my skin. I growl and stalk over to the closest wall, throwing my arm as hard as possible. My fist goes straight through the plaster as I let out a yell of frustration.
Shoulders heaving with my breath, my body trembles as I let the anger flow and dissipate. I glare at the hole in my wall.
