Page 58 of Reluctantly His

Maybe it was Reid’s influence. Maybe I was just finally coming into my own.

Crossing my arms over my chest, my gaze narrowed. “You have that the other way around. You’re not paying for me. My family is buying your father’s shriveled up, useless, dusty old title. I own you!”

“You stupid American bitch.”

The back of his hand slammed across my face, hard enough to throw me to the floor.

CHAPTER 21

REID

The solid hotel door splintered off its hinges under the weight of my boot.

Charlotte was on the floor in a pile of wedding-white tulle, looking like a broken doll.

Romney rubbed his fist as he straightened his shoulders. “How dare you enter this room without permission. I’ll have you fired.”

Ignoring him, I crossed to Charlotte.

Gently placing my hands on her waist, I lifted her to her feet. Cupping her cheek, I ran my thumb over the emerging bruise as I brushed away a tear.

She wrapped her hands around my wrist. “You should go,” she whispered. “He means it. He’ll get you fired from your job.”

My brow furrowed. “Protecting you isn’t my job, babygirl. It’s my purpose in life.”

“Get your hands off my wife.”

His wife?

Nevermind that Charlotte was not officially his wife yet.

That this piece of shit excuse for a man would make any claim on my woman had me seeing red.

I kissed Charlotte on the forehead. “Go find your brother or father. Romney and I are going to have a little chat.”

She shook her head as she urgently whispered, “I can’t. I need to smooth this over before anyone finds out. Don’t worry. I’ll convince him not to get you fired.”

Romney placed his hands on his hips. “If you don’t leave this instant, I will call up my security team and have you thrown out with the trash.”

I didn’t even bother turning in his direction. I would deal with him soon enough. “Baby, I don’t give a flying fat rat’s ass about my damn job. Now, do as you’re told.”

There was no profit in having her witness what I was about to do.

Romney huffed as he directed his next comment to Charlotte. “Look at you, throwing yourself at the help like a common trollop. My mother will hear about this.”

Fuck, I was going to enjoy beating this man bloody.

I turned as I shrugged out of my tuxedo jacket. “Thanks for that. It’s been at least two weeks since I’ve hit someone.”

Romney blanched as the thin skin of his throat contracted. “I’m not afraid of you.”

My eyebrow raised as I rolled up my sleeves while slowly stalking him into a far corner of the room. “The human body has countless fear markers. Your paler than normal skin is the blood rushing to your hands and feet.”

Romney stretched out his fingers before him.

I continued, “Your pupils are dilated, allowing your brain to hyper-focus on the threat before you. Your heartbeat is elevated, pumping more oxygen into your muscles.”

With a nod of my head, I gestured toward his hands. “Your hands are trembling. That’s from the surge in adrenaline.”

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