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Anger floods my system and once again I see red. One touch and I’ve ruined her beauty. I push her aside. “Get out of here,” I roar, pushing her into Raven’s hands. “You don’t belong here. Stay and I’ll bury you along with this bastard.” My voice drops deadly low. A shudder visibly works its way through her petite body.
She fights Raven’s hold. “You have to stop.”
Her expression morphs between being scared for herself and then…
“Do you know this man?” I turn back to Kincaid who is on his knees waiting for what comes next.
Tears fall from her jewel-colored eyes. “I do,” she stutters and the pain in her voice breaks my cold, dead heart.
What is happening to me? I consider her silently.
This strange beauty falls to the cement next to the man and throws her arms around him.
“What have you done? Why didn’t you listen to me?”
She cries into the traitor’s shoulder with ragged sobs that fucking tear my insides apart. Who the hell is my enforcer to this woman? He doesn’t deserve to have such a soft rose under his care if all he can do is give her pain. If she were mine, tears would never fall down her cheeks again. Rage built of jealousy grabs me by the balls and squeezes. I’ve had enough.
I haul her off Kincaid and throw her smaller frame into Raven’s forceful grip.
“Get rid of her,” I thunder with the force of hell behind my words. “And make damn certain she doesn’t come back.”
The woman flinches, making me want to apologize immediately for speaking so harshly. What the fuck is wrong with my head?
“Valerian. Please, boss. Don’t do that. None of this is her fault.”
I brush off my enforcer’s begging and look to my second in command. “My order stands.”
My second-in-command gives a stiff nod, but the way Raven has his lips pressed into a flat line is the only hint of him not in agreement with my decision. Shock reflects in his eyes.
“Raven.” I say flatly.
“Yes, sir.”
I never get caught up in a woman’s scent or the sweet sound of a soft voice. But I admit I’m fascinated by this one. If I had less control over myself, I would lock this rare red-headed beauty in my castle where she would know no other man’s touch but mine.
Fear grips her beautiful features, and it breaks my damn heart to see those pretty eyes fill with anything other than joy. “Get rid of me? What does that mean?” Instead of screaming and begging like I expect, she keeps her feet firmly on the ground and holds my gaze with blood-shot eyes. Strength of a hundred warriors surrounds her.
My respect for this tortured creature grows.
“Boss, please.” Kincaid starts to stand up. “I only did it for the girl. You gotta believe me.”
I rear back, striking him across the cheek. “Traitors stay on their knees!” My wrath is held in check only by her presence. And isn’t that a bunch of horseshit? When did I grow a heart?
Who am I to protect her from my darker nature?
Raven moves them toward the rear exit. From there, he’ll stuff her in a trunk and I’m sure he has a few favorite spots that would work well for a small body like hers.
Do I really want her death on my conscience? Could I live knowing her soul is lost to this world because of me?
No.
My gut doubles in on itself. Fuck. I grab him by the shoulder. “Wait. Just…” Fuck. I never go back on an order. “Send her home,” I tell Raven and then my eyes lock on hers. Her chest heaves and those pretty lips of hers are split open, daring me to steal the kiss I crave.
I take in the way her dress touches the dips in her waist, her ample hips, and the way her round breasts teases the dipping neckline with hints of creamy skin. She is designed to carry a man’s children.
I step into her space and put my face in hers. Freckles dust the bridge of her nose and tops of her cheeks. Our noses touch. Our eyes lock. I inhale long and hard to commit the scent of her fear to memory. She doesn’t want me to see it, but it’s under the thin layer of defiance this unknown beauty wraps around her like a shield. Everything about her does it for me. Fuck. When was the last time that happened?
Never.
