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“You didn’t though. Next time I’ll handle you myself.”
Her eyes widened. “Next time?” she asked, feeling and sounding outraged. The sick fuck was out of his mind.
He ran his thumb along her throat and then gripped it snuggly, shocking her.
She reached up and covered his hand as he leaned closer maintaining the choke hold. His mouth was right next to her lips. She could feel his spittle and his teeth graze her mouth.
“Don’t fuck with me, Aspen. I will get you back. I will make it so that you’ll never see your brother or any other asshole who thinks it’s their job to protect you. You think Storm and his buddies can protect you from me? You’re wrong. I’m more powerful than them. They’re weak, they want out of a life they’re connected by blood from. It doesn’t work that way. You’re going to get them killed and your brother killed. How is that for just business?” He applied pressure to her throat shocking her and making her panic. Would he strangle her right here on the balcony where hundreds of people stood only ten feet from the entrance? She was shaking, her eyes wide with fear, and he smiled.
“One day I’ll have you all alone and to myself. You’ll learn the obedience necessary to be my woman. When I call upon you, you better come. If you don’t, then the consequences will be great. Those men in your life that you think can protect you will die because of you. Do you understand?” he asked. He pressed his body snugger against hers and cupped her breast as he still held her by the throat with his other hand.
“I understand,” she softly whispered then tried swallowing, but he held her tightly.
A moment later she heard a grunt. As Andrei and her looked, his men were pressed against the walls with guns at their throats, and both Zin and Storm were standing there along with Dmitri and his men. Storm and Zin stepped closer.
Andrei had already released his hold on her and she started coughing.
“Get the fuck away from her. I don’t ever want to see you near her again,” Storm threatened as two men stood by Andrei and began walking him out.
“There’s no need for hysterics, Storm. Aspen and I were just discussing something important. I think we’re clear on things now. Aren’t we, Aspen?” Andrei asked as he held her gaze.
She nodded.
“Get him out of here. Escort him and his buddies to their car. Keep your hands off of Aspen,” Dmitri ordered as three big men in suits took over removing Andrei. But one look at Andrei and Aspen knew this wasn’t over.
She was in a shitload of trouble as she turned around to face the balcony and catch her breath. Her body was numb. No tears emerged. She never cried. That was how separated she was from emotions, from feeling anything. Although she was physically shaken up from Andrei’s threatening hold, she still had an ability to lock down her emotions and hold them inside.
Never show weakness and fear again.
* * * *
Zin hurried to Asp
en’s side as Storm argued with Dmitri over keeping an eye on Aspen and how he let Aspen be alone with that man. He felt his own blood boiling and he damned himself for listening to Storm about not making a scene the moment they caught sight of Andrei. The man had no boundaries, especially when it came to women and manhandling them. Why was he even speaking with Aspen? Why did she walk away with him to the balcony?
“Aspen?” he whispered.
“I’m fine, Zin. I just need a minute.”
He stepped closer, placed his hand on her shoulder, and she tried stepping away. She was scared but she was stubborn and tough, always having something to prove.
“It’s okay. You’re okay now,” he assured her. She turned to look at him and he saw the fear in her glistening sage eyes and his heart ached. Then he locked on to the redness on her throat.
“That fucking bastard.” He reached for her and pulled her closer to examine the marks.
He gently glided his thumb along the skin that wasn’t marked.
“What’s wrong?” Storm asked and Aspen looked away.
“I’m fine. He was just trying to scare me.”
“Well, he did a good job,” Zin told her then reached for her chin and gripped it making her look up into his eyes. She was so freaking beautiful. He wanted to pull her into his arms and hold her tight. Take that fearful expression from her face and make her see that she could lean on him, on the rest of the team. Yet here they were, having to hide their feelings from a woman they honestly already loved.
“We’re leaving.”
“No, Zin, I’m fine. The last thing I want to do is go home,” she said.
“Why?” Storm asked in that aggressive, deep tone that was all commanding. Zin could see Aspen cringe from it.
