“What the….” my question fades out as I feel like I’m going to be sick.
My hands start to shake, and I’m repulsed by the inferior position fucking Damen Riley has put me in. I don’t know if Iwant to pass out or scream, but then a set of large and capable hands circle my waist.
Wolf’s voice is a heavy bark from behind me. “Excuse me, did you just threaten my fiancée?”
8
MOLLY
His touch unnerves me, and I stiffen slightly while glaring at Damen Riley.
“And who are you?” He has the nerve to ask Wolf with irritation saturating his voice.
“That’s not nearly as important as who the fuck you are seeing as how you’re the one trespassing!” he says, his voice low and threatening.
As hot as this caveman act is, I can’t let it go. “Wolf…”
“Babe,” he turns to me, his eyes softening a touch, “I’ve got this, but why don’t you go grab the shotgun just in case?”
Shotgun?
“I don’t mean any harm, man. Molly here has been dodging my calls, so I thought I’d drop by. Name’s Damen Riley, and I’ve been trying to make her a generous offer on this beautiful piece of property.” He glances around, a lecherous look in his eyes, like he’s salivating over a piece of property.
“I’ve been ignoring you because I already told you no!” I say, trying to keep the desperation out of my voice. I’m tired of being hounded.
“So she tells you no, and you just keep on pushing?” Wolf challenges him. “You come by unannounced and intrude on her life? Think she simply needs a little bullying to give in? Tell me that’s just business.”
“It’s not that simple,” he states, looking like he knows he’s been caught but still wants to make some kind of point. “She’s going to lose it anyway. I’m just trying to help her at least get something out of it.”
“You don’t know what you’re talking about,” I say, hoping I’m right.
“I think I know more about what’s happening than you do.” He tilts his head, and his lips curve menacingly as he directs his words to Wolf. “Her grandmother’s will went into probate after she died, making it public, and I’ve seen the provisions. She keeps this placeonlyif she’s married by age twenty-five. Otherwise, it gets seized by the bank. If that happens, she loses the place and gets nothing. I’m at least offering her?—”
“It’s a good thing then we’re getting married this weekend,” Wolf says.
Wait… What?
“And we’ll be keeping the property,” Wolf adds, keeping up the impromptu charade as he continues to stare him down. “Which renders your business here unnecessary. Now get off this property before I bury you on it.”
Mr. Riley sets his jaw, staring hard between us. “You’re grasping at straws.” He shakes his head again, sounding certain before pointing at me and pinning me with a hard glare. “I really tried to do this the nice way,” he sneers, his voice heaping with mock regret. “I’ll have this land one way or another, and you’ll wish you hadn’t made me?—”
“Get the fuck out of here!” Wolf roars, advancing on him, his fists fully clenched.
Riley startles, stumbling slightly back down the steps, damn near falling on his ass before Wolf turns and ushers me back in the house, slamming the door behind us.
Wolf turnsaway from the door to face me but seems to have no words.
I cross my arms, staring him down and raising an impatient eyebrow.
He shakes his head subtly, giving me a questioning look in return. “What?” He finally prods.
“Explain.”
He blows out a breath and brings his hands up to crumple the bill of his ball cap. “I don’t know. I walked in just in time to hear him threaten you about not being married, and I did the first thing I could think of.”
“Which was volunteering as tribute?” I ask, being cynical because my world feels upside down right now.
“Well in my mind, it was simply defending you by telling him it was happening and showing him you had someone in your corner,” he dissects his actions, likely referring to the protective arm he put around my body. My traitorous mind tries to remind me of the zing of excitement that lit me up, but this is so not the time to get caught up in that.
