Page 78 of Pursued By the Orc
“You should have looked into the clan you were messing with, Harrington. Do you think we made our way to the top of this city without knowing who else was in it?” He scoffed, shaking his head. “Turns out your boss isn’t taking lightly to you threatening the clan he has a truce with.”
Adrian’s eyes widened and he swallowed hard, shaking his head. “No! I didn’t do anything to your clan. I just... My brother should have left everything tome. I was just fixing what he’d done wrong.”
“She’s part of my clan, you spineless coward,” I hissed, pointing to where my mate stood. “She’s my mate.”
Adrian’s eyes were all but bugging out of his head now. His gaze flickered between everyone in the room, and I could see the moment he knew he had no way out. Especially when the sound of stomping feet made its way to the front door.
Frustration and surrender poured off of him in waves. He stood in the entryway near Rudgar, shoulders hunched like a male trying to make himself as small as possible.
His hands kept dancing toward his pockets, as if he was hoping something might appear out of thin air and save him. But he’d been too confident. It was obvious he hadn’t thought his plan through. He’d never thought to protect himself because he’d been so sure the males would be able to.
“Y-you don’t have to do this,” he said, his voice jittering as the pounding on the door started. “Look, I can... I can make this go away.” His eyes flickered in the direction of the door when Savlaturned to walk toward it. “The boss—no, listen! Stop! Listen to me!” He called to Savla, but he completely ignored him.
I ducked into his line of sight, quirking an eyebrow. “Go ahead. You were saying? Your boss?”
I watched him babble, watched every bit of confidence he had left leak out of him. But then he perked up. “The money! The house! I can give it all back!”
I smirked at him, crossing my arms over my chest. “Like you had a choice?”
He turned to face Emma and I could feel my temper boiling over. “I’ll get youmoremoney,” he screamed. “I’m your uncle! How can you do this to me?”
I turned to look at her, knowing that this part wasn’t my place. It was up to her. And as I saw the cold fury in her eyes, I knew she wouldn’t regret a moment of this.
“You’re no uncle to me,” she hissed. “I hope you rot in jail for what you did to my father.”
The little hope he had in his eyes died at those words.
“You made your choices,” I said softly. “Now sit down.”
He sank onto the same chair he’d treated like a throne. Now he slumped in it like the broken male he was. I watched my Emma turn away from him, pride filling my chest.
CHAPTER 51
Krusk
After the police had taken Adrian, he’d hissed threats at my clan and I before turning to give Emma the death glare.
“This isnothow you treat family, Emma,” he’d screamed at me.
“Ichosemy family, Adrian,” she’d said, calmly, taking my arm as she gave a little wave with her fingers. “And you’re not part of it.”
I shouldn’t be insanely proud that she’d claimed me in front of her psychotic criminal uncle, but I was. I was giddy with it. Especially after I guided her inside her house.
Because it’s hers now.
The door clicked shut behind us, and for a moment, the street outside felt quieter than it had any right to. The house smelled of dust, polish, and the faint trace of the cigar smoke Adrian had left behind—a reminder that danger didn’t disappear justbecause he slinked away.
My mate ran her fingers along the banister, eyes narrowing as she took in the space. “It’s… ours again,” she whispered, a mix of relief and awe in her voice.
I stepped closer, letting my arm brush hers, not wanting her to think that I wanted to lay claim on anything that she owned. Especially after she’d fought so hard for it. “Yours,” I said, low and rumbling. “And nothing—or no one—will take it again.”
She looked up at me, eyes bright. “I can’t believe that was so easy,” she said, though I could see the humor fighting with admiration in her gaze. “Thank you.”
I grinned faintly, rubbing my thumb against her lower lip. “I don’t know that I’d call iteasy.” I let my chest rumble, a mix of pride and warning. “But when it comes to you, Zemar, protecting you is… enjoyable.”
She laughed softly, brushing a stray lock of hair behind her ear. “I like that,” she said, squeezing my hand lightly. “Being protected. No one’s ever done it other than my dad.”
“Well, I’m your new protector,” I told her, leaning a little closer to press a gentle kiss to her nose. “I’ll do my best to be as good of a protector as he was.”
