Page 45 of King of Sinners

To see her quiet actually soothes some of my ruffled feathers, but not all of them. She’s not so hurt that she’s hysterical. Then again, she was exceptionally calm that first night in the conference room. Doesn’t she have any sense for her own safety? “What were you thinking?” I snarl, slamming the door behind me. “He could have really hurt you.”

Her head tilts up, her eyes, shining with tears, meet mine. “I’m sorry,” she whispers. “I didn’t think.”

“No. You didn’t.”

“I just wanted to fix one problem without adding more worries to your already full plate. I’m so sorry…”

She’s talking about me? If she’d argued, I could have stayed mad. But her apology cuts me to shreds and I’m pulling her into my lap, my arms wrapping tight around her. “I won’t even go into the fact that our entire ruse could be jeopardized. What if someone looking for you saw you on that campus and made the connection?”

She stiffens in my arms, her breath catching. “I didn’t see anyone other than one female student who I don’t know.”

“Still. It was dangerous.” I hold her tighter, my bruised knuckles aching as I twist my fists into her dress.

“It’s time for me to go, isn’t it?”

My arms turn to steel around her. She’s getting antsy to run again. “No. It’s time for you to let me take care of this.”

“It’s too much. I’ve asked too much. I can’t ask you to do that.”

Reaching for her chin, I tilt up her face to mine, claiming her mouth in a fierce kiss. After what she just went through, I should be tender. But my blood is still pumping, and the worry is still beating through my veins. I let her mouth go, giving her a long stare so that she understands. “Charlotte, I am big enough and strong enough to hold up your world. Just let me.”

She melts into me then, her body pressing close to mine, her mouth so soft and yielding that I could devour her. God, this woman feels so good.

She threads her fingers into my hair, her full lips opening. I kiss her over and over, wishing that I could go home with her. Just spend the afternoon washing all her hurts away and hold her until she fell asleep in my arms.

What is this woman doing to me?

But I had a meeting with my family that had started a half hour ago, and they were going to be pissed. I’d been about to go to the conference room when I’d seen Jackson’s text that Charlotte had requested to go to the campus.

By the time I read it though, they were already en route. I’d left without a word to anyone, rushing to follow her.

Which meant I was now very late. Kincaids were not known for patience.

As if the situation wasn’t already tense enough. Which is why I hold Charlotte until we reach the apartment and then I see her into the elevator myself.

It’s only when the doors close, that I put my war face back on.

My knuckles are red and bloody from where I’ve pummeled Burke’s face, but I don’t mind the pain.

If anything, it puts me in the right state of mind.

This is a battle, and I’m going to need my fight. I get out at Kincaid Enterprises and make my way up the elevator and into the conference room. The doors have barely opened, and I can already feel the change of energy.

Everyone is tense and or pissed. Join the club.

Roman and Luke stand when I enter. Jake always keeps his seat and today is no exception. He might be my employee, but as my uncle, he doesn’t bow.

Leo stands off to one side, his glare strong enough to shred me. I stop, our eyes locking.

“You look like fucking shit,” Jake calls from his seat.

“I feel great,” I respond back. Snark isn’t usually my style, but it suits my mood today.

Roman shakes his head. “Why are your hands bleeding?”

Everyone stills at that…even Leo. “It’s unrelated.” For them, it is.

Luke’s eyes narrow, as he assesses me with a long glare. “Can you really afford to fight with anyone else?”

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