Page 50 of Possession

“Oh, I thought you came as a biker.” I grind my jaw at her analogy, the use of the word biker stinging more than she could understand, given I never told her a damn thing about my brother Ricardo.

“Nope, not a biker. But I love to ride. Hard.” Rocco’s eyebrows dance, and I have an immense need to cut them from his smug face. Provoking me is not a good idea. It won’t end well.

“I’m pretty sure I just saw Jade go outside.” Ellie points toward the patio. “Can I go see?” The fact she asks for my permission forces my cock jump in delight, and her brown eyes lift toward mine, seeking approval.

“I’ll watch from here. Behave.” Then, as much as I want to kiss the top of her head, I refrain from doing so, conscious of the guests watching my every move. She waits for me to do something, and I hate the fact disappointment mars her pretty features before she glances away with hurt in her eyes.

She slips away, and I immediately feel her loss and hate the way she left without my reassurance. Just another reason I’m so infuriated at having to be here.

“I wouldn’t have acknowledged her either,” Rocco adds, drawing my attention to him. He leans back against the wall, his eyes flicking over the crowd. “Too many fucking vipers.”

“I saw Robert here earlier. What does he want?”

Rocco scoffs. “Money, what else?”

“Have security follow him. I don’t like him hanging around our father’s house. Then get rid of him before I lay eyes on him again.”

“What? You mean you don’t want to welcome our stepbrother home?” Rocco chuckles.

Ignoring him, I change the conversation. “Have you seen our father?” I quirk a brow at my brother. I’m slightly disappointed I haven’t been able to introduce him to Ellie yet. After all, she is the future mother of his grandchildren.

“He had a blonde on his arm and went into the games room.” I chuckle, knowing my father is probably balls deep in some girl right now.

The man might be a grandfather, but there’s no slowing him down.

My gaze latches onto my girl outside. Poor little doll looks lost as she searches the crowd for Jade, my brother’s addiction.

My attention is drawn to a figure watching my girl with interest, and when he pushes off the wall and follows her, anger pierces through my chest, creating a protective adrenaline so strong I’ve no choice but to push my way through the crowd toward him. Fury builds with each step. If he touches one hair on my little doll’s head, I’ll rip him apart until there are only unrecognizable remnants of his existence.

Nobody hurts my little doll.

Nobody but me.

Chapter Twenty-Seven

Ellie

Imove through the crowd of people in search of Jade and into a free space, taking a deep breath now that I can finally breathe easier.

For the first time tonight, I understand why Rafael was reluctant to attend. The disapproving looks and assessing stares have me feeling like I am on display for all to see. There is a dangerous toxicity in the air, one that tells me the party is much more than something fun. Enemies, lovers, deceit, they all swarm the air like a battleground while the innocents among them float by unaware.

Footsteps coming from behind me startle me, and when I stop to look around, I realize how far I’ve wandered away from the party. I glance back and can only see the dim lights of the patio, and shadows shroud me in a cloak of darkness.

Panic wells inside me, and with my heart racing, I lean against the wall of the mansion to catch my breath, and I become acutely aware of the fact I am surrounded by dangerous people, yet so vulnerably isolated out here alone.

“Stupid Ellie,” I grumble to myself.

“What do we have here?” A man steps out from the shadows dressed as Gomez from The Addams Family. His voice is slimy with a threatening edge to it. Attempting to step away, my back hits the wall, and again, I could kick myself for being so dumb.

He reaches out to touch me, and I turn my head away and squeeze my eyes closed, but his touch never comes. When I pry my eyes open, I’m stunned to see Rafael’s mask-covered face. His broad build dwarves the man who tries to hit Rafael.

Rafael dodges him with ease, chuckling darkly at the lame attempt to free himself.

“Nobody touches what’s mine.” Rafael grips him by the neck, pressing hard as the man’s eyes bulge while I watch on in horror.

Then Rafael grabs the top of his head with the palm of his thick hand and pushes the man to his knees.

“Apologize to my little doll.”

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