This time he expects it at least and he hits me back square on the nose, the pain radiating outward up my cheeks and to the back of my head. It nearly makes me lose my grip on him, but I hold on. White noise rings in my ears as I quickly push him backward.
“She’s not yours anymore,” I sneer into his face as my hands clench, and I slam his back against the tiled wall. I hear a crack, but it does nothing to stop me. “You gave her to me, remember?”
My teeth slam against one another so hard that I swear they’ll crack. He merely grins back at me, blood coating his teeth on the right side of his crooked smile.
As I talk, I can feel warm blood trickle from under my nose. My instant reaction is to slam him back against the wall, and I do it just to get the aggression out. “You owe me, and you’ll pay me by the twenty-fifth.” I decide then that even if I can’t convince her not to give him the money, I won’t accept it. I’ll wait to pay her, I’ll refuse to do it until after Brooks has paid me.
“Sure,” he says with a glint in his eyes.
“I won’t be paying Arianna, so you’ll need to come up with that money some other way,” I speak without thinking, holding his gaze and watching the arrogant expression morph into fear. It doesn’t matter if or when I transfer the money to Arianna, I won’t let him steal from her. I won’t let him use her. Not anymore.
I let go of him when the fear is so strong that his body is stiff. I glance at myself in the mirror and see a black eye already forming, blood on my face and also my dress shirt. Fuck!
“And then what? What are you really going to do about it?” he asks as I grab a few paper towels and wipe the blood from under my nose. He doesn’t move off the wall as he hisses, “I don’t have the fucking money.”
I don’t answer him. I won’t ever say it out loud. I’ll kill him. Not for the debt, but for what he’s done to her.
“We had a deal,” he pushes the words through clenched teeth. “You have her and you can’t go back on that!”
It hits me then what I’ve done. How I’ve lost control. I’ve provided evidence. Security cameras are littered in this building. Fuck!
“Payne?” Brooks calls out to me, but I ignore him. He means for it to come out strong as he stays behind me, standing tall and putting on a front, but his voice cracks with fear.
Tossing the paper towel into the trash, I open the door and almost make a quick right turn. I hesitate in the doorway. I need to get the fuck out of here; I can’t be seen like this. But I need to get Arianna. The sound of another man coming down the small hallway makes me move. I have five minutes. If I don’t have her in my grasp in five minutes, I’m coming back.
I keep my hand up, my fingers pinching the bridge of my nose and covering my face. To any onlookers, I hope it looks as if I have a headache. The cool air from the outside breezes by me as I get closer to the exit and a couple walks in.
I ignore them, I can’t even see who they are and I don’t give a fuck.
As soon as I get outside, I spot my limo and walk straight to it. I keep my strides wide and my pace fast. It’s on the far left of the parking lot and the valet and a few guests are on my right, the sounds of them chatting and the brighter lights of the entrance dimming as I walk farther into the darkened lot.
I notice Marcus look up and see me, a surprised look on his face as I finally lower my hand and wipe under my nose. Dark red blood smears across the arm of my jacket.
That fucker. My steps are hard as I stalk toward the limo, my blood fueled with the desire to go back. I clench and unclench my hands before reaching for my phone. My sweetheart.
Thank fuck for Lucian.
As Marcus opens the door, not daring to look me in the eyes, I slip the phone from my pocket, only then realizing my knuckles are cracked and there’s blood on them, too.
My blood runs cold as I settle into the seat. The door closes shut with a loud click and silences the cabin of the limo as I dial his number.
“Lucian,” I say and press the phone close to my ear as I stare at the entrance, the light from the large glass doors and windows spilling out into the night.
“Zander?” he says and his voice is filled with surprise. Which is a good thing. It calms my racing heart.
“Arianna’s still with you?” I ask as the driver’s door opens and Marcus slips in. His eyes flash to mine for a moment in the rearview mirror.
“She is. Is everything-”
“Bring her to the front… please,” I ask him quickly, grabbing a few tissues from the side compartment as I feel a bit of blood trickle from my nose. I resist the urge to slam my fist against the door. Against anything. The anger is coming back. I shouldn’t have left him like that. He deserves so much worse.
“Of course,” Lucian is quick to agree, a serious note in his tone.
“Thank you,” I barely get the words out, feeling in that moment that I’ve failed her.
Every muscle in me is wound tight, my heart beating chaotically. I’ve never done something so fucking stupid before in my life.
“To the entrance, Sir?” Marcus asks and I clench my jaw, nodding my head as his eyes meet mine again in the rearview mirror. My heart slows, and I reach for the whiskey as the limo pulls out slowly. I grab the glass and ice out of habit and pour two fingers into the glass. I sway slightly as we drive around to the front.
I’m able to down the glass before he stops the car and gets out, the cold ice clashing against my teeth. I don’t even realize she’s waiting for us until Marcus gets out and opens her door.
I run a hand down my face and put the cup back as she climbs in, her dress bunched in her hands.
My chest feels tight and my heart clenches as I watch her step carefully in and settle next to me. I’ve made a fool of myself. And her. All because of Brooks.
Next time, she doesn’t leave my side. Not for a moment.
“I’m sorry,” I choke the words out, reaching for her with my left hand, the one without the torn knuckles as Marcus closes the door. I’m so fucking ashamed. She deserves better than this.
She shakes her head easily, her brows pinched and her mouth parting as she takes in the sight of me. “Zander,” she says and my name is barely a whisper on her lips.
She reaches up in an attempt to touch my face. From the look in her eyes, it must be bad. They’re full of questions. But she doesn’t ask them. She already knows the answers. I snatch her hand in mine before she can touch me.
“Don’t,” I tell her. At first, hurt flashes in her eyes, but I’m quick to add, “Just...” I trail off and take in a long inhale, not knowing what to say, or what to tell her. But I don’t have to. She lays down, not waiting for me to finish as the limo pulls ahead. Her hair spills over my leg as she rests her head in my lap. Laying her cheek against the designer pants.
I slowly pet her hair, moving it from her face and smoothing it out. She lets out a comfortable sigh. As she nestles her head into my lap, looking aimlessly into the cabin of the limo, her small hand wraps around my knee. Her thumb rubs small circles. “Was it Danny?” she asks me.
“Yes,” I answer her easily.
“Are you okay?” she asks me in a cautious breath.
“Fine,” I reply and I’m short with her, my voice hard as I continue. “You’ll never go back to him.” Her finger halts in its rhythmic path as I say the words with authority, as if I can command her. For now, she may be in a contract, but I’m not a fool, I can’t force her after the thirty days are done. She doesn’t owe me a damn thing, and what’s more is that I don’t want to force her.