Page 103 of Tarnished Tyrant (Zhukova Bratva 1)

“No more questions, motherfucker,” I hiss, just before I drive my knee into his chin.

He’s unconscious before his body hits the floor.

I step over him and reach for the door, but before I can grab the handle, the door flings open. Then Belle is lunging out at me, an industrial-sized hole punch wielded high above her head.

“Get away from me, you perverted—”

I see the moment it hits her. The moment she recognizes me, the moment she realizes Roger is incapacitated and I’m the one on the other side of the door. Her eyes widen in shock and horror, but she’s already bringing the metal hole punch down towards my face.

And she can’t stop it.

I duck down and dodge to the right, but the heavy piece of metal catches my shoulder. Pain radiates down my arm like lightning.

Belle drops the hole punch, which lands on Roger’s limp leg, and stumbles against the wall. She catches herself with her palms and looks back over her shoulder at me.

Immediately, an image appears to me.Belle pressed against a wall. Her head tucked against my neck as I drive into her.My pants tighten instantly, the adrenaline I feel from stopping Roger channeling into a different emotion altogether.

“What are you doing here?” she asks.

I shake my head, clearing the vision. “I think I should be the one asking you that. What the hell happened?”

She glances down at Roger. Another ripple of fear moves through her. It makes me want to finish what I started.

“He… he came onto me.” Her face flushes like she’s embarrassed. As if she has anything to be embarrassed about. “I tried to turn him down, but he attacked me.”

She grabs her torn shirt and holds it closed over her chest.

Rage burns red behind my eyes, making it hard to think straight. I clench my jaw. “Did he hurt you?”

“I got away. I ran,” she mumbles through thick lips. “Into there. I’d just decided to try and fight me way out when you got here.”

“You would’ve succeeded, too. That thing is heavy.”

She looks down at where the hole punch leans against his leg, a small smile playing on her lips. “I hope it leaves a huge bruise.”

“He deserves worse for what he tried to do. I’ll see that he gets it.”

The reminder of how bad things could have turned out steals her smile away. Her hands start to shake, and I can see realization washing over her. She stumbles back into the wall, legs shaking.

“I’m here,” I say as I reach out and grab her arm to stabilize her. “You’re safe.”

“But I need this job,” she says in a sob. “Oh, fuck. Fuck! What have I—Is he going to be okay?”

Belle bends down like she’s going to tend to Roger, but I haul her back up.

“Hey,” she protests. “I need to—”

“Get the fuck away from this rapist pig,” I finish. “I’ll deal with Roger. And then I’ll deal with you. Everything will be fine.”

I can see in her face that she doesn’t believe me, but she’s too tired to fight. She lets me lead her down the hall towards my office. On the way, I message down to the security desk.

“What will happen to him?” she whispers.

“Stan will pick him up,” I tell her, unlocking my office and showing her inside. “It’s security’s job to deal with intruders.”

“But you hired him.”

“And now, he’s been fired. Here, sit.” I push her down into the leather chair and grab a bottle of water from the mini fridge. I press it into her hand. “Drink.”

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