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I wasn’t a violent person. I rarely had to resort to physical brawls to solve a problem, and in Bentley’s case, I didn’thaveto; I wanted to.
He recovered enough to rush at me, fists clenched, but I was ready for him.
With a swift side step, I dodged his wild swing and took the opportunity to deliver a powerful punch to his midsection.
He doubled over from the impact and clutched his stomach, gasping for breath. I didn’t give him a chance to catch it before I hauled him up by his collar and slammed him against a nearby locker.
“That was your first and final warning,” I said, my words quiet enough to reach only his ears. “Touch, talk, or eventhinkabout Sloane again, and I’ll make what Richard McEntire did to that ball boy with his tennis racket look like a walk in the fucking park. That includes any indirect contact. If you make her life difficult inanyway, you’ll be blacklisted from New York society so fast, it’ll make your head spin.”
“You don’t have the power,” Bentley sneered, but a glint of fear swam beneath his murky eyes. For someone like him, getting blacklisted was even worse than getting beat up.
“No?” I said softly. “Try me.”
I didn’t abuse my family’s wealth or last name often, but I was still a Castillo. Even with my inheritance tied up and my reputation as a hedonist, I could crush Bentley Harris II like a fucking bug.
He knew it as well as I did, which was why he didn’t say a word when I dropped him on the ground like a sack of potatoes.
“Pass the message along to your wife,” I said, my face hardening. “The same goes for her.”
I wouldn’t touch Georgia. Sloane’s relationship with her sister was her domain, but that didn’t mean I had to stand by and watch while Georgia tried to tear down the woman I loved.
Loved.
It was a strange concept, and not one I’d had experience with in the past. But now that I’d identified it, I couldn’t believe it had taken me so long to recognize it.
The way my mind mapped every detail about Sloane, both consciously and unconsciously, like I would drown if I didn’t inhale enough of her. The comfort I had in sharing my secrets with her, and the spike in my pulse whenever she was near. The warmth; the jealousy; the fierce, overwhelming protectiveness.
Ilovedher, totally and completely, and I’d be damned if I let anyone hurt her.
Bentley must’ve heard the vicious resolve edging my voice because he didn’t attempt to save face in front of his peers. The others’ shouts had died down to grumbles of disappointment at how quickly the fight had ended, but I hadn’t expected it to drag on.
At the end of the day, people like Bentley Harris were cowards. Cowards never lasted long in the face of those willing to call their bluff and I knew, with bone-deep certainty, that he and Georgia would never bother Sloane again.
I stepped over Bentley’s sprawled legs and walked out, leaving him bleeding and humiliated on the floor.
I didn’t bother acknowledging the other club members or taking advantage of the empty courts on my way out.
My business here was done.
CHAPTER36
Sloane
Ishould’ve been embarrassed about breaking down over a goldfish, of all things, but it’d been surprisingly cathartic, at least with Xavier. I suspected I would’ve felt differently had I opened the door and seen anyone else.
But I hadn’t, and he’d been here, and he’d stayed. Overnight.
That was already a big deal for me because I didn’t let random men in my personal space. But he wasn’t a random man; he washim, and the house felt so much more vibrant when he was there that I’d thrown caution to the wind and invited him over for the weekend.
That was right. I, Sloane Kensington, had willingly invited someone to stay—count them—one, two,threenights with me, and I didn’t dread it.
Who even am I?
In keeping with the mushy-sentimental-aliens-abducted-my-body theme, I also tried to play Martha Stewart on Friday night. The results were…mixed.
“Have you ever baked before?” Xavier leaned against the doorframe and arched an eyebrow at my attempt to make chocolate chip cookies while a batch of cupcakes baked in the oven. Amusement played in his gaze, along with a hint of concern.
I’d barely used my appliances before tonight. I usually ate out or ordered in; the kitchen was there for show and the occasional cup of coffee.
