Page 39 of Broken Surrender
Sweat dripped down my face, Desmond held me around the waist, giving me support as I let go of the chains. He unshackled me.
Zira smirked, her eyes washing over me again. “You’ve trained her well,” she said.
“Thank you,” Desmond said, accepting the compliment for me. Like I was truly his. I filled with pride, with acceptance, with loyalty. And with exhaustion. I could barely keep my eyes open. Zira handed us a robe, and Desmond wrapped it around me.
Desmond’s phone vibrated between us, and he pulled it out of his pocket. His brow furrowed, then he stowed his phone.
He faced Zira. “I’m afraid we have to cut the night short,” he said.
“So soon?” Zira tilted her head. “But we were just getting started.” She winked. “And I was enjoying the entertainment.”
Desmond forced a smile. “We’ll have to return next time.”
I slipped into my red dress, the fabric sticking to my skin. Several people mingled in the hallway, including the white-masked man. He fondled the woman’s breasts, twisting her nipples until they turned purple, and as we passed, Desmond secured his grip around me, making me walk on the opposite side. But as soon as we crossed, the man stroked his fingers along my exposed back. I flinched and Desmond’s eyes lit with fire. He couldn’t pick a fight now, not when we were trying to get his membership secured.
“It’s okay,” I whispered. “It’s fine.”
Desmond ignored me, shoving the white-masked man against the wall, then immediately put him in a hold, pinning him there, his forearm against the man’s throat. The man struggled to breathe, his eyes wide, his mouth twisted in a smile. My heart stopped. Desmond was usually so calm and controlled; what had changed in that moment?
Then I realized the answer: me.
“Don’t touch her again,” Desmond growled, “or I’ll kill you.”
CHAPTER 13
Lena
The man slunk to the floor, laughing to himself. Desmond adjusted his collar, then led me out of the building, a protective arm around my back. Neither of us spoke a word on the way to the porte cochère. Not even when the driver parked, opening the door to let us into the back. But as soon as the doors closed behind us, the partition separating us from the driver, I turned to Desmond.
“An emergency?” I asked. He nodded. “Is it work?”
“More of a personal matter.”
As we drove through the neighborhood, the adrenaline relaxed out of my system. I let my hands relax on my thighs and kept my eyes in my lap. I wasn’t sure if he should have done more. Would we have to do it again?
“Just because I let Finn touch you, doesn’t mean you’re his,” Desmond said, breaking the silence. “We have a lot at stake right now. And with the heiress watching, we had to make a move.”
“You didn’t want to do it,” I whispered.
He gritted his teeth, looking away from me. “What I want doesn’t matter.”
Desmond’s modern mansion came into view. The driver parked, then let us out. Desmond scraped a hand over his face before he faced me.
“You’re welcome to come inside,” he said. “Stay the night. Or go to your own house. My men are still guarding your place. But I’ve got something to take care of.”
I raised a brow. “You’re acting strange.”
“It’s—” he ran a hand through his hair, “—an awkward situation. For anyone.”
“What is?”
He sighed, then went inside. I followed him down a long hallway to a single door. He unlocked it. A young, pale girl, about my height but with dark hair like Desmond’s, burst through the entrance.
“Took you long enough,” she said.
“Leonard should have brought you something while you waited,” Desmond said.
“He broughtonepad.One.” She shook her head. “I’m not wearing that.”
