Page 7 of Navy

“Oh, fuck,” Bas whistled, “I better go and inform Reaper that the soft and smelly is about to hit the fan.”

Ignoring both of them, I forged my way through everyone, not stopping even when people hailed my name. I had my woman in sight, and nothing was stopping me from claiming her.

Gianna’s eyes widened as they caught sight of me. Nervously, she licked her lips. Instantly, my cock perked up and hardened at the innocent gesture. Sending her a wicked grin and a wink, making her eyes widen even more, if that was possible. When she realised I wasn’t stopping, she gave me a hesitant smile, and that was me done for. In that second, I knew she was the one I’d been waiting for.

‘Fuck me, she’s gorgeous, and she’s going to be mine.’

Opening my arms, I knocked the bellend who had hold of her arm hand away from her and swept her up and into my arms. Not taking the time to think about what I was doing and if it was the right thing, I went on instinct that it would all work out as it should.

In the next moment, my mouth was on hers. She gave a small squeak of surprise, but then her lips softened under mine as she melted against me. Lifting my head, I smiled into her stunned brown eyes and hoped like hell she’d follow my lead. “Gia, sweetheart, sorry I’m late. I went by the flat, but you weren’t there. Then Hope said you’d be here.”

“Gia, who is this?” Julian interrupted angrily.

Standing tall, I pulled Gianna into my side, where she fitted like she’d been made for me.

“I’m her husband.”

You could have heard a pin drop. “You said she wasn’t seeing anyone,” the prick with them sputtered.

“She wasn’t. I don’t know who this guy is. It’s impossible that you’re her husband,” Julian sputtered, his face growing red with anger that I’d somehow completely scuppered his plans with just a few words.

“That’s where you’re wrong. We got married a year ago, but I’ve been away for work, and I’ve been out of communication for a while. When Hope got word to me that she hadn’t been able to get hold of Gia for months and she was worried, I wrapped up my project as quickly as I could and came back home. Then I got worried when there was no-one at our flat. I was just about to raise the alarm and file a missing person’s report with the police when Hope called to say Gia’s name was on the guest list. You can imagine my relief to see her here. Fine and healthy.”

Gia had been silent through all this, but she’d relaxed, trembling against me like she was exhausted. And I had a feeling that whatever fuckery was going on here had her in this condition and I wasn’t having it. It was like waving a red flag at a bull when I felt a woman was being threatened. There was no mistake about it. Gia was somehow being threatened. I’d seen it from across the room and I saw it now. She didn’t realise it yet, but she was mine now and I protected what was mine in any way that I could. I knew the brotherhood would be behind me in this as soon as they caught wind that something was going down. And I was right because I felt them at my back before they’d even said anything.

And with Reaper’s next words, I knew that Bas and Hope had come through for me and had updated them with as much information as possible.

“Gia, love, it’s so good to see you. You had all of us worried about you. We were about to post a missing person’s report.” While he was talking, he gently removed Gia from my arms and passed her to Hope who had walked up with them.

I’d be forever grateful for my family, both blood and not, when Hope pulled Gia into a hug, further cementing the ruse we were playing when she gushed, “Gia, it’s so good to see you. How’s your grandmother and Tristan? Come on, the family table is over here. It’s great that Julian could bring you. You must tell me what you’ve been up to. You’ve had us so worried about you.”

Hope’s voice trailed off the further away they walked from us. Dragon peeled off from our group and followed them, leaving us to deal with the dicks in front of us.

Smiling coldly at Gia’s stepbrother, I grabbed him by the arm right about where I’d noticed his fingers leaving indents in her soft flesh and walked him out of the ballroom. Hawk and Onyx had the other wanker between them, and he was escorted out, squawking all the time. I don’t know what Onyx said to him, but he immediately shut up and meekly followed along.

All I wanted to do was bash their brains in so that I could be assured they’d never try anything like this again. Unfortunately, I knew I couldn’t, not tonight anyway. There were too many eyes on us, but that didn’t mean that I couldn’t at a later date.

For now, a warning would have to do.

Escorting them around the corner and down an alleyway, far away from prying eyes. I pushed Julian up against the wall, my arm tight against his throat, cutting off his air.

“Listen to me, you demented fuckhead, and listen good. Tonight is the last night you come anywhere near Gia. One hair on her head is harmed and I’ll make sure nobody finds your body. Nod if you understand.”

Moving my arm from his neck a little so he could take a breath, he nodded.

“Good, she’s married, and we’ll get to the lawyers on Monday to prove it. Anything happens to her or Tristan and you will be the first person I come looking for. Do you understand?”

By now I knew that Skinny would have already been notified and would be working his magic, getting the right paperwork where it should be.

Julian nodded again, his face starting to turn purple. Removing my arm from his neck, I allowed him to draw a deep breath.

Pulling him away from the wall, I straightened his jacket and tie, making sure he looked back to normal. All the time I did this, I made sure to look him threateningly in the eye. Like all bullies when they are confronted with someone stronger and bigger than them, he caved. He didn’t like that I eyed him the whole time. His eyes were all over the place as if he was waiting to see if someone would rescue him, but I knew that my brothers wouldn’t allow anyone in the alley. Plus, we were in London, nobody gave a shit about what happened down alleys here.

Letting him go, I shoved him towards the entrance of the alley. My brothers parted to let him through, and just as he was near the mouth of the alley, I called out, “Julian!” He turned to look at me.

“We’ll be watching you.”

He didn’t say anything, just hightailed it out of the alley towards the parking area. I don’t know what happened to the guy he was with and didn’t much care, either.

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