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Ariana’s cheeks were pink from dancing with her friends, and she lifted her hair, exposing the curve of her neck. I leaned against the banister, still hidden in the shadows. She said something to her friends as she walked away and headed for the front door.
Perfect. I hurried down the stairs, trying to remain undetected, which was nearly impossible. Elbowing my way through the crowd, I ducked through the kitchen and out the back door before Anderson caught up with me. The cool air greeted me, and I took a deep breath.
“Not now,” I said irritation thick in my tone.
“Dude, your text message wasn’t okay. You’ve not said anything about claiming Phoebe. You can’t cockblock me like that.”
I didnothave time for his annoying small talk.
I made my way around the far side of the mansion, then I spotted Ariana in the driveway. My gaze narrowed as an older guy approached her and she backed away.
Unbridled fear coasted through Ariana’s expression. I moved closer in order to hear what was happening, with Anderson right on my heels. If he was insisting on being on my ass, he had to stay quiet. I placed my finger over my mouth and he nodded. Hopefully, I could catch more than bits and pieces of Ariana’s conversation.
Hidden behind a tree, I muffled my laugh. I felt like a cold-hearted stalker, but it didn’t bother me.
“Why are you here, Peter?” Ariana asked, her voice trembling. “I left New York to get away from you. Don’t you get that?”
He closed the gap between them and grabbed her wrists, shaking her hard. Anderson nudged me in the side, anger coasting over his face.
“You willneverbe free of me. I own you. Enough of your childish nonsense. It’s time to come home.” He sneered, the corner of his lip twitching.
What the hell? This ugly bastard thought he could get rough with her. No way was he taking her anywhere. She was mine. Always had been.
Peter slapped a hand over her mouth as a few stumbling, drunk girls giggled while they passed them. The group never even glanced their way.
The fucker quickly spun her around and pulled her against his chest. It was then that the moonlight glinted off the barrel of a gun. He and Ariana began to walk down the side of the driveway, where it was darker.
From Anderson’s expression, I could tell he was about to blow a gasket. He might come in handy since I clearly had to deal with this asshole, so I motioned for him to come with me.
I followed them quietly, piecing together exactly how to deal with Peter. No one fucked with Ariana except me, and that disgusting son of a bitch was about to find that out. Not to mention, he had a gun trained on her, which made me nearly lose my mind. Fuck no.
Ariana dragged her feet, making it more difficult for Peter to navigate her. She elbowed him in the gut and attempted to run, but he tightened his grip on her and jammed the weapon into her side.
My molars clenched, images of my past flashing through my mind as I followed them. Peter took a right into the tree line of the property, trying to stay hidden. Quietly, Anderson and I darted across the driveway and ducked behind a large oak.
“We can do this the easy way or the hard way, Phoebe. It’s up to you.”
Without any concern for her safety, she spun around and head-butted him. Peter staggered backward, holding his forehead in his free hand. Ariana attempted to run, but he snatched her arm before she even made it a few feet away.
Anderson shot forward and I grabbed him before he blew our cover.
“Wait,” I mouthed to him.
He nodded, ready to deal with the situation.
“You’ll pay for that, you little bitch.” Peter raised the gun and smacked her on the back of the head. Ariana dropped to the ground with a soft thud.
I bolted out from my hiding place and snuck up behind Peter, kicking his knee out from under him. He collapsed to the ground beside Phoebe, and I wrestled the pistol out of his grip. I placed it against his skull, grinning like the crazy fucker I was.
“Check on Phoebe,” I ordered Anderson.
The moment he knelt beside her and checked her pulse, I returned my attention to Peter.
“Hello, Peter. Allow me to introduce myself. I’m Jagger Whitlock.”
The color drained from his cheeks as he raised his arms in the air to protect himself.
“Don’t hurt me. Please.”
