Total pages in book: 132
Estimated words: 125465 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 627(@200wpm)___ 502(@250wpm)___ 418(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 125465 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 627(@200wpm)___ 502(@250wpm)___ 418(@300wpm)
“What’s your problem?” he questions, his beady eyes narrowing while he straightens out his rumpled suit jacket. “The fuck?”
“She wasn’t enjoying herself.”
Damn, I am impressed with my self-control. I’m able to speak clearly and keep my hands to myself. I jam them into my pants pockets, clenched tight, craving the feel of his face under my knuckles.
“And she’s expected back at the table,” I add in a voice choked with impotent rage. I can’t believe the way I crave this asshole’s blood.
One single look at her, and I damn near come undone.
She’s shaking, breathless with relief. I turn my attention away from her would-be rapist to look her over.
“You okay, Scar?”
“Jesus, lighten up,” Enzo sneers with a chuckle. “I was playing around, and you’re acting like I was fucking her.”
“You watch your mouth,” I hiss through my teeth, lunging for him before I realize what I’m doing.
“Ren.” Scarlet’s voice is a whisper. “Don’t. He’s not worth it.”
She’s right, he isn’t, and I shouldn’t. No matter how much I want to.
If I was smart, I’d stay away from him. I would. I’d back away, extend a hand to help her up, and walk her back to the dining room.
I might suggest she take a second to calm herself down before we get there. But I’d leave Enzo in my dust.
If only he didn’t snicker. If only he didn’t shake his head.
“Does she keep your balls in a jar?”
In a flash, I introduce him to the wall at his back, slamming him against it with enough force to rattle the books on the shelf.
“The fuck did you say?” I demand through clenched teeth, leaning in until our noses practically touch.
He doesn’t seem to like having somebody in his face any more than Scarlet did. He cringes like a bitch, trying to turn away.
Maybe he’ll learn a lesson, though I doubt it. Pieces of shit like him never do.
“Ren…” Scarlet’s soft voice keeps me centered, reaching through the haze of my rage. It touches me and eases the worst of the screaming in my head.
“You do not touch her. Ever. You don’t even suggest the sort of shit you wanted to try. Understood?” He doesn’t answer quickly enough, and I tighten my grip, slamming him against the wall once more. His head bangs against it, and I hope that’s enough to knock some sense into him.
“Understood, asshole?”
“Yeah, yeah.” His eyes dart around, wide and full of fear.
Sweat has begun to bead at his hairline. Normally, I would savor this, and I might very well replay his reaction in my head later on.
Now, there’s little time. If Xander has to send someone after us, the outcome will not be pleasant. We’ll both catch hell after dinner.
“Or it’ll be your balls I keep in a jar.” I smile, my teeth showing like a rabid dog, ready to attack.
I watch as he gulps, his throat working overtime to get over the ball-sized knot of fear clogging it. “Do you think I’m joking?”
“I get it.”
“Now. Go back to the table and pretend none of this happened, or I’ll pay you a visit sometime soon, and we’ll finish working this out.”
I pause a beat before letting him go. His haste to escape the room is gratifying, though not nearly as much as his blood on my knuckles would be.
I let out a long breath, shaking my hands out before turning back to Scarlet. She’s frozen beside the sofa, trembling in that sexy little dress that skims her thighs and hints at the full tits she developed when I wasn’t paying attention. Why would I? She’s a sister to me, a little kid. My protectiveness stems from brotherly affection and my natural inclination to protect the people I care about.
And when she was a kid, that was enough. Things were clean, simple.
Now? She’s no longer a child.
And I am no longer unaware of that.
For her sake, I force a short laugh. “What? You think I’m gonna let some slimy piece of shit fuck around with you? You underestimate me.”
“But you… I thought you were going to kill him.”
Something inside me recoils in guilt at the hero worship shining in her eyes. I want to bask in that worship, I realize, which is the most unfortunate thing ever. “Come on. Let’s get back before your dad sends out a search party.”
Her dad. Xander Rossi. An insanely powerful and ruthless man.
I need to remember that. Now more than ever.
Because forgetting could mean being unable to fight the sudden, inexplicable urge to take her in my arms and claim her for myself.
Not only is she far too young, but she’s entirely off-limits.
And entirely too tempting; everything about her calls out to me in a way nothing ever has before.
Fuck. I am in trouble.
Ever since that night, when I’ve slipped away from Corium without Q’s awareness in favor of watching her from afar, it hasn’t been in the spirit of an older brother making sure his kid sister isn’t taking risks.