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Bianca
My gaze locked on Atlas’ half a second before he sprang into action. Inherently, he read my warning to stop and, to my amazement, did.
But he wasn’t happy about it, his lupine eyes darting between Jesse’s hand squeezed at my neck and my own wide stare.
“Jesse, you’re hurting me,” I said in a simple tone, which was not an easy feat, considering Jesse’s hold on me.
I was careful not to arouse Atlas’ anger any more than it already was, but their conversation had brought home some hard truths.
I did belong to Jesse. Eugene had seen to that. There was a legally binding contract and a curse that kept Atlas and me from ever truly forming our mate bond as it was intended to be.
“You’re lucky that’s all I’m doing to you after the trouble you’ve caused, Bianca.”
Footfalls garnered our attention, and Atlas whipped around to see Eugene at the doorway. He eyed the scene with mild perplexity and some amusement.
“I see you’ve found the bitch,” my father chortled. “Good. I’ll leave you to it.”
He tried to back away, but Atlas took all his pent-up rage and drove it into Eugene. I didn’t even see my father go down, Atlas’ form overtaking him as my father’s cry filled the air. A thud ricocheted through the room, and Eugene hit the floor.
“Get off me, you beast!” he howled, covering his face and eyes. “Leave me alone!”
“Atlas, get off him, or I’ll kill Bianca!”
The words stopped my mate from reacting, but his breaths escaped in uneven rasps as he glowered at the men.
“Leave him, Atlas,” I told him softly. “He’s not important.”
“Ungrateful wench!” Eugene whimpered, wiping his face where Atlas had nipped his cheek. His nose had swollen into an unattractive bulb to match the gash on his face. By the end of the day, he would look like a pincushion if this kept up.
“You can stay here and lash out all day if you like,” Jesse taunted him. “While your casinos all burn to the ground. Literally.” He chuckled. “If I were you, I would try to salvage what I could, but I suppose that’s why my great-grandfather and you parted ways. He was a better businessman.”
“He was a whoring gambling addict.”
“Eugene might have liked him,” I offered brightly.
“Watch your tongue, Bianca!”
Atlas whipped his head back to snarl at the older man.
Atlas’ response to Eugene was clear in my mind as he spoke without words. “I will cut yours out if you speak one more word to her.”
I didn’t think I could love him more than I did at that moment.
“Come along, Bianca,” Jesse purred, yanking me along toward the door.
I dug in my heels next to the writing desk and shook him off.
“No, wait!” I begged. “I just want to be clear about something before I go.”
Jesse looked at me cautiously. He didn’t trust me—not that I could blame him for that. Setting my back against the desk, I shrugged his hands off me.
“I belong to you—only you, correct?”
Jesse scowled with irritation. “Your stalling techniques need work, girlie.”
“It’s not stalling. I want to be absolutely clear.”
“You and your sister belong to me.”
