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I reached for Everleigh’s wrists and rubbed gently over them but her attempts to hide the hisses at my touch were audible to my pitch perfect ears. I kissed the spots gently before running my fingers along her soaked cheeks. Her head pulled backwards and her gaze lingered upwards at me. I ran my fingers along the wetness, drying the tears with the pad of my thumb before I pulled her mouth to mine, hungry to taste her on my lips. I fought to keep myself grounded. an attempted calmness that only she could have provided. A panic hit me when I read that message of help and my first fears surfaced. I now had to face the person I had hoped could be avoided at all costs. I wanted to wring his neck for what he’d done to her. I nodded at the men, oblivious to the uproar about to go down, who bypassed us on the way to the elevator. How dare he have laid his hands on her?
“Belle…” Her glazed eyes snapped to mine as the dancing fire within drove my senses wild. I tangled my fingers into her petite ones. “It’s okay, I will sort this out. Go to Freddie.” I brought her knuckles to my mouth and kissed each one, rolling my forefinger across the top. “I’ll be down soon. I’ve just got to dispose of the trash first.”
I called the elevator and she stepped inside, nodding slowly at my words before she lifted her chin up and held her head high.That’s my girl.
“See you soon, baby,” I said as the doors closed and her slight smile hit me deep in the chest.
“Finished with the love fest? I may need a sick bucket,” Stone said as his lips tugged into a smirk and he ran a hand through his hair, knocking me from the perfect vision that had just left the warmth of my arms.
“At least I have a woman… no thanks to you,” I said as I stormed towards my open office, not offering the typical gesture for him to enter first, as I would have done for anyone else. He could have fucking choked on his own dick before I offered any hospitality to him. And that would’ve only been so I could’ve watched the bastard’s life pass before my eyes. Nope, he didn't deserve to breathe the same air as me or her for that matter.
“You broke our agreement…” Stone sneered as he leant against the wall, running his hands down the arms of his suit jacket before he tightened the knot of his tie.
“I'm my own man and business takes priority…” I replied, sitting on the edge of my desk as I crossed my ankles and created as much distance as possible between the two of us.
“Well, that's one set of values we agree on.” He pushed forward, watching if I was about to meet his stance, but I stayed still. He wasn't going to warrant my reaction. “Fighting for what we want.”
“You're just after money and power.”
“It makes life better!” Stone bellowed at my insult that hit him right in the chest. “I'm not going to let someone just stroll in and crumble my existence without doing what's necessary to keep it. We're too alike boy, in that respect.”
“Nope, that's where you're wrong,” I replied as calmly as possible, even though my voice wanted to scream at him. I wanted to tell him what a shit existence my life had been. What he had done to me had destroyed not just my life, but Everleigh’s too. Although he wouldn't have shown an ounce of remorse, as that was his aim, forcing me to leave Everleigh, so no, I wouldn’t give him the satisfaction of gloating. Stone cared for himself, his life and career. Everyone else could whistle or be forced to see his way of thinking. Well, that's what he thought until now.
“Am I? You flew here because of issues.” He grinned with glee, his upper lip curled as he folded his arms across his body. “Maybe you should look closer to home, son?”
“Don't call me that… you don't deserve to call me son. You’ve never acted like a father so just don’t,” I countered, hating that word being uttered from his lips.
“Look, I’m not even sure how you knew I was even in New York,” I forced the words out quickly, whilst Stone sniggered away.
“I know you, boy. I knew it was only a matter of time before you snuck back into my city to see that skank, so I kept an eye on her,” he admitted cockily.
“You did what,” I yelled. “The deal was I left and she’d be safe.”
“She was safe, safe under my watchful eye… you didn’t think I’d just let you continue your everyday lives without keeping track of you, did you boy?” he replied in a deep tone, with a glint in his eye.
“Fuck you, Stone, just fuck you. Don’t go near her again or you and I will not be on such agreeable terms. Now, get out of my hotel, and if you ever so much as lay a finger on Everleigh, I will end you.”
I heard hushed voices nearby and looked toward the door where ten or so security men stood outside my office door. All waiting for a nod from me to storm in and take out the trash in one swoop. I didn’t give a shit if we donned the same bloodline, he had pushed me too far this time. Nobody touched my girl and Everleigh was certainly mine again, whether he liked it or not.
Instead of leaving, Stone spoke again. “You boy, will do as I say. If you want me to leave your Belle alone… I will.”
Before he said another word, I flew at him, fists clenched, striking him with full force in the jaw. Nobody spoke of Everleigh that way, especially not him. How dare he? My temper couldn’t be held in any longer and with clenched teeth, I spat out, “You don’t get to say her name, do you hear me, Stone? You don’t see her or speak to her, ever again.”
Security stormed in, the first few guys grabbed him under each of his arms and dragged him out. He attempted to dig his heels into the floor and his fingers grasped the door frame, screaming blue murder.
“Big mistake, it doesn't bloody matter whether you’re flesh and blood or not. You will pay for this!”Stone screamed and his voice echoed across the room.
Stone didn't deserve the time of day. I ignored his threat and requested him to be removed from the building and put on the ‘no entry’ list. At least I knew Everleigh and I would both be safe in the hotel from now on. I headed for the staircase, running down the floors to get to Everleigh. I needed to run to calm myself down and clear my head. I needed her in my arms, nothing else mattered.
14
Everleigh
The doors of the elevator opened and I didn’t know how I carried my feet forward. I was lost in a trance as my eyes connected with Freddie’s. Then I felt an immediate warmth as he wrapped his arm around my shoulder, leading my tiresome drained body forward and away from prying eyes. I wanted to push him away. I wanted Dawson but I knew he had to do this alone, without me.
I found myself gently being placed around the side of the coffee shop in an enclosed alcove, where I was able to catch the movements of passing people around me. I had to visibly watch the moment Stone left. I had to know the second Dawson was safe.
I couldn’t hold it in any longer as a sobbed cry rose up my throat and I let myself break down. A familiar voice coughed, making me aware of his presence. He hadn't left my side. I noticed the warmth of his arm still encased around me, keeping me together as much as he could. I should have known that Freddie would’ve stayed.
