Page 122 of Wicked Lord

“Excuse me. You’re not allowed back here.”

Fuck.

I turned and plastered on a beaming smile as Royal Jamison strolled down the hall, the crystal light fixtures casting a glow over his cropped ebony hair. “My apologies, Royal. We just needed to have a private conversation.”

The hardness melted from the thirty-something’s chiseled face as he approached. “Oh, Axel, I didn’t recognize you.” He rested his hand on my shoulder. “I was just speaking to your father. He says you’re working for Vanderhart Securities once you graduate.”

“Yes, I’m looking forward to going into the family business.”

He released my shoulder and gave a dramatic groan. “I’d been hoping to snatch you up for my company. You’re so good with people. They just love you.”

I grinned. “Iamlovable.”

Royal noticed Micah and extended his hand. “I’m Royal Jamison. You’re a new addition. Micah Preston, right?”

He swallowed and took his hand. “That’s correct. Pleased to meet you.”

Royal studied him with an unreadable expression as if he already knew Micah had a few black marks against him. He verywell could. Vaughn might have told others about his suspicions surrounding the new member.

After several long, tense moments, he dropped Micah’s hand.

“You two better head back to the party.” His gray eyes flicked toward me. “Especially you. I saw your lovely girlfriend dancing with another man.”

My eyebrows slammed down. “What guy?”

Royal shrugged and twisted his diamond pinky ring. “He’s not one of us.”

Trepidation coiled through my chest, and I marched down the hall, Micah on my heels. “Don’t even think about snooping anymore tonight, Preston. You’re already on Royal’s radar, and if he sees you outside of this ballroom again, you’re done.”

“Yeah, I get it,” he mumbled behind me and darted toward the bar once we entered the lavish ballroom.

Hot fury penetrated my veins when I found Lorelei in the center of the dance floor, her body rigid as stone against Brock’s.

That son of a bitch.

The soft music and conversation faded as I stalked toward them, my hands curling into fists.

Would I knock his ass out and cause a scene?

Hell, yes.

“Let go of my girlfriend, Haversham.” My voice came out in a deep, threatening tone that would’ve made most people tremble.

A sinister smile curved his mouth. “Don’t be silly, Axel. We’re just dancing.”

Loathing and fear permeated Lorelei’s eyes as she tried to untangle herself from Brock’s relentless hold. “Everything’s fine, Ax. He just wanted to talk for a second.”

Talk my ass.

She looked like a goddess in the curve-hugging pale pink dress, and I hated that any other man, especially Brock, thought he had any right to touch her.

I grabbed his arm and yanked it off Lorelei. “I said let her go.”

His laughter made the hairs on my nape stand on end. “Do you really want to show the party just how violent and unstable you are by assaulting me?”

Instead of backing down, I stepped toward him, catching sight of Killian, Gage, and Slate across the room. Somehow, they’d noticed the tension and already looked prepared to jump in. I gave a quick shake of my head, warning them off.

“In case you haven’t noticed, Haversham, this is my town, and these are my people.” I gave my own ominous laugh. “If I knocked your ass out, they’d pick up your broken body and toss you on the lawn, no questions asked.”