Page 60 of Casino King

Tessa’s eyes stay on mine for a beat longer until she blinks and looks away, turning to her dressing table to gather her things. That’s when dancer boy decides to lean in and whisper something in her ear.

“Step thefuck away from her,” I snarl, and I feel Leo and my men take a step towards me.

“Enough,” Tessa says sharply, her eyes swinging back to mine. “Just…enough, Alec. I’ll meet you out there in a minute.”

“I’ll wait.” I refuse to let her leave my sight for even a second in case she decides it’s a good idea to find another way out of here.

I’m not taking any chances with the men that are in attendance tonight and risk any of them taking her for themselves.

Sighing, she throws her makeup and hair things into her gym bag and then shoves her clothes on top of it all, not bothering to change.

“Tell Dan I’ll return the costume at practice and that I had to leave early,” Tessa says to dancer boy, and he just nods, knowing that words are dangerous for him to speak right now. Or ever again.

Hoisting her bag over her shoulder, she pushes past me and eyes my brother and bodyguards for a split second before slipping through the curtain.

“Tessa!” I yell after her. Throwing the curtain open, I stride after her, gripping her arm and spinning her to face me. “What the fuck are you doing? You can’t walk through a room like this alone.” My eyes dart down her body. “Dressed like that.”

“Like what, Alec? What am I dressed like? I always where outfits like this on stage.”

“Not here. Not with these men watching.”

“Who?”

“Men who won’t hesitate to take you and do whatever the fuck they want with you before either killing you or leaving you so broken, you’ll wish they had.”

Her gasp isn’t audible with the music blaring, but I see her sharp intake and bend so my face is right in front of hers.

“Would you like that, mia bella rosa? Should I leave you here to be picked apart by the wolves?”

“Fuck you,” she spits, her rage winning out over any fear she feels. “You have no right to treat me like this. You’ve known from the start that this is what I do, and if you don’t like it, then go fuck yourself, because I’m done.”

“What the fuck did you just say?” I seethe, my vision blurring with anger. Grabbing her chin, I force her head back. “Don’t throw threats around you know you can’t keep, Tessa. You’re mine, and I have every right to treat you like this. You were dancing like you were fucking. Why did you feel the need to hide this from me? It looked like that took some practice.”

Tessa tries to pull away from me, but I just grip her arm and chin harder.

“You can struggle all you want, but I’ll always win. You’re lucky I didn’t kill your little dance partner for touching you like that. And if you want it to stay that way, you won’t do that sex show ever again.”

She remains silent, but her hazel eyes are blazing with anger. Releasing her chin, I start to drag her through the crowd, feeling the eyes of everyone around us.

Our SUV is already waiting for us when we exit and I open the door, lifting Tessa up and all but throwing her inside, ignoring her grunts and huffs of protest.

Chapter 20

Tessa

Alec has no right to treat me like this. Crossing my arms over my chest, the man who was with Alec climbs in after him and closes the Range Rover’s door, the small space suddenly feeling like a tin box with barely any air for me to breathe.

I’m beyond mortified that Alec just dragged me out of there like a petulant child he thinks he can control like a mindless doll. Like one of his men he barks orders at and expects obedience like a fucking well-trained dog.

I was humiliated.

Looking out the window as we fly down the streets, I shove my body as far away from Alec’s as I can. I don’t want a single part of him touching me right now.

The car air is swirling with a cloud of emotions so thick, I can barely decipher my own from the others.

The driver pulls directly into the underground garage of The Aces, and when the engine cuts, the sudden silence is like a bucket of cold water dumped over my head – pins and needles stabbing me without leaving any marks. But I can feel them just as I can feel Alec’s silent punishment he’s dishing out to me now.

I honestly can’t tell if he genuinely wants to hurt me or not.

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