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She didn’t have a choice.
Now, I had to convince my brother to let me keep her.
I returned to my penthouse as quickly as I could. My meeting with Cristian had gone surprisingly well, but he’d still insisted on coming to speak to Samantha in person. He would arrive at my suite only minutes after me.
I wanted to check in on Samantha and ensure she was covered before my brother came barging into my private haven. I didn’t want him breathing the same air as her, especially when I’d barely begun to tame her. Her fiery spirit might get her into trouble. I’d do what I could before Cristian arrived to encourage her good behavior.
A harsh male voice greeted me when the elevator doors slid open.
“Do you know what he’d do to me if I helped you? I have a future to think about. I’m not about to fuck it up by pissing off the boss. Especially not for some whore.”
Rage ignited in my gut, and my steps quickened, carrying me toward my bedroom. Ben had defied my orders. He was talking to her. He was looking at her. Looking at what was mine.
“I can help you,” Samantha said quickly. “If he’s threatened you, my friends can—”
He barked out a laugh. “You think I’m being threatened into staying here? I’m paying my dues, you stupid bitch. Don’t fucking talk to me ever again. And don’t you dare tell him I spoke to you, or I’ll—”
“You’ll what?” I demanded, the deadly calm of my voice belying the fury simmering within me. I paused at the threshold to the bedroom. If I continued advancing on him, I’d rip the boy apart with my bare hands. Samantha didn’t need to see that kind of gory violence. She’d proven how innocent she was—in so many ways—and I didn’t want to mar that with a show of brutality.
“She was asking for help,” Ben said quickly, his voice hitching. “I was just saying—”
I took a single step toward him, maintaining my icy mask. “You were threatening her. You were looking at her.” It took effort to keep the growl locked in my chest. “I told you not to look at her. You’re lucky she’s covered. Do you know what I do to men who look at what’s mine?”
The boy shook his head and tried to retreat. He made the mistake of moving closer to Samantha.
I was on him in a heartbeat, grabbing his upper arm and jerking him away from her. I stared down at him, and satisfaction threaded through my ire when he trembled in my grip. The monster inside me wanted more of his fear. He deserved to be punished for defying me. For daring to look at my pretty captive.
But I was mindful of her wide, pale blue eyes on me. I couldn’t spill his blood in front of her.
I might savor her fear, her tears, but I didn’t want her to shed them for him.
“Look at her again, and you’ll lose an eye,” I warned on little more than a whisper. “Threaten her again, and it’ll be the last thing you ever do. You’re relieved of your duties. Never come into my quarters again.”
He nodded, but he couldn’t seem to manage to speak. I finally released him, shoving him away from Samantha. Just knowing his eyes had been on her was like a taint on her lovely porcelain skin. I wanted to brush it away with my fingertips, to brand her with my touch, so her body knew I was her Master.
“Leave.” I bit out the order before I lost my tenuous restraint and snapped his neck.
He hastened to comply, ducking around me and darting out of the room.
My full attention riveted on my captive. Her eyes flew wide, and her pulse jumped at her throat. The way her pretty pink lips parted on a gasp made dark lust pulse through my veins.
She really was lovely when she was frightened.
She shrank away from me, scrambling across the bed: prey attempting to flee the predator.
The collar I’d locked around her throat stopped her short, but she yanked against the chain frantically.
I took a breath and dropped the cold, threatening mask I’d worn to intimidate Ben. I might relish her fear, but I didn’t want her panic. She’d hurt herself if she struggled too hard. I didn’t want the collar to rub her slender neck.
She flinched when I reached for her. That didn’t dissuade me. Samantha would accept my touch.
This time, my intent was to comfort with my hands rather than punish.
“Calm, cosita,” I urged in my most soothing tone. My rage threatened to rise again at the thought that Ben had incited this fearful state. I swallowed my anger and focused on her, stroking my fingers through her silken hair. “You’re safe. He won’t hurt you.”
“I’m not worried about him,” she said shrilly. “You’re the one who just calmly threatened to cut out someone’s eye. And I’m chained to your bed. Naked. I’m freaking afraid of you.”
I knew I’d been right to avoid mutilating Ben in front of her. She was shaken by simply the threats I’d made. Samantha was far more delicate than she’d like to think, I was certain.
