“We need to talk,” Konstantin replied.
“We’ll talk later,” Stefan said, his voice hard with anger. “It’s time for you to go.”
Konstantin gave a shrug and dusted off his fine wool coat, as if annoyed that in his effort to intimidate and strangle me, he had gotten it mussed. I could still feel his fingers squeezing around my throat and flinched when he turned in my direction.
“Good evening, Victoria,” he said mockingly. “I’m sure I’ll be pleasuring you with my presence again soon.”
That was the last straw. As he turned to go, Stefan was right there, right in his face. Konstantin was plenty bigger than me, but he was practically dwarfed by the size of his tall, thickly muscled, broad-shouldered son. I could tell by the way Konstantin was appraising Stefan that he realized it as well. It might have been the first time in his life he’d looked at his son that way—as an actual opponent—as one man assesses another in the heat of a conflict.
I saw Konstantin’s arrogant expression falter for a split second, though he didn’t budge, still maintaining a façade of control. Stefan moved to block me from his father, and pointed at the door.
“Get out. And if you ever lay a hand on her again, I’ll fucking kill you.”
It was the same thing he’d said to his brother Luka. A combination of pride and relief spread through me. Stefan would keep me safe. No matter what, I could trust that. If he would stand up to his own family, heedless of the consequences, then I knew that he would do anything in his power to protect me.
Konstantin said nothing, but I saw his expression shift, go cold and calculating—and that scared me more than anything he’d just done to me. Because despite the fact that Konstantin had been forced to back down just now, recognizing that Stefan could overwhelm him physically if it came down to it, I knew that Konstantin was the kind of man who wouldn’t forget the slight. Wouldn’t forget the way Stefan had undermined him. I’d bet anything that my father-in-law would find a way to get even later.
Knowing he was temporarily bested did nothing to secure our future safety from him.
“Please go,” I murmured, purposefully letting the fear come into my voice.
Maybe pleading with the man would make him feel like he’d won the argument, like he’d gotten his power back. Make him forget that he wanted to make Stefan pay.
“I’ll show myself out,” Konstantin said, smirking as if it was his own disrespect toward Stefan that was spurring his exit.
“You do that,” Stefan said.
Without another word, Konstantin pushed past both of us and left the condo, slamming the door behind him. I finally let out the breath I was holding.
Stefan strode to the door to turn the lock and bolt the door. Then he whipped out his phone and dialed a number.
“I need a locksmith to come to my condo first thing tomorrow and change all the locks on the front door,” he said to the person on the other side of the call. “I don’t care what it costs, just get someone over here with the best fucking lock money can buy and only two sets of keys.”
He hung up the phone and turned to face me.
I sagged against the wall, my knees weak, my throat still aching. A river of unshed tears gathered behind my eyes. But I wouldn’t cry. I wouldn’t allow myself to break.
Stefan came toward me.
“Did he hurt you, kitty cat?” he asked.
I didn’t know what to say, too choked up with the lingering fear and trauma, so I didn’t say anything. No doubt Stefan would be able to see the bruises forming on my throat.
“Come here,” he ordered, but in a gentle voice.
I did as I was told, walking toward him. Most of me felt numb at this point, the shock kicking in, but my heart was still hammering in my chest.
“What happened?” Stefan asked, his hand coming up to cup my face, forcing me to look at him. “What did he do?”
I didn’t know if I could speak.
Stefan seemed to sense that I was having trouble forming the words, so he led me over to the sofa and pulled me onto his lap, cradling me in his strong arms.
“I’m not going to let anybody hurt you,” he said. “Tell me what went down.”
Finally, I managed to say the words. “He was here when I got home. He wanted to know where you were,” I said, my words slow and halting.
I looked up at Stefan’s face. It was impassive, as it always was, but there was a softness in his green eyes. I realized I truly did feel safe with him. I felt protected.
