Page 51 of Ruthless Savage

Just breathe and calm down.

“You’re my fiancé, not my husband.” I force a smile.

He chuckles humorlessly and his jaw tightens before he returns that ugly stare that has me bathed in fright.

“I asked you where you were.”

My body shivers.

Where’s Devlin? He has to be close. He always is.

Mason backs off the car and marches directly toward me. I jump a step back, my breath hitching.

“I—I was talking to a professor, and now I’m heading to lunch.”

He stares down at me bitterly, as though unsure whether he finds my answer acceptable.

“Great, let’s go get lunch. I have my car, so we can stop by that retro diner not far from here.” He grabs my hand, but I tug it away.

“Eriu? Everything okay?” Devlin’s voice is a welcome relief.

Tears threaten behind my eyes when I whirl around toward him, suddenly feeling safer now that he’s here. I rush over to him, and though he doesn’t reach for my hand, his finger brushes mine, and I almost burst into tears. With just that touch, every cell within me blossoms to life. My chin trembles and more tears gather.

Mason comes to stand between us.

“Devlin,” he says coolly by way of greeting. “You don’t need to follow her around when I’m here. That’s my job now.”

Devlin eyes him intensely and stalks closer until his chest meets Mason’s. “Until her father tells me otherwise, Eriu is under my protection. Wherever she goes, so do I. I don’t take orders from you. We understand each other?”

Mason’s nostrils flare, his mouth set in a wry smile. “Clearly.” He backs off just enough to give me space. “Assuming you’re going to be joining us for lunch?” He cocks a brow.

“Aye.” Devlin holds his stare while my throat throbs and anguish fills my chest.

He sees it. Devlin sees my pain, and instead of telling my father he wants me, instead of saving me from it all, he watches me walk away with a man who isn’t him.

When will I ever learn? I’m alone. I always will be.

We arrive at the diner and immediately take a seat at a table, with Devlin taking his at the one beside us. His attention never leaves me, and the severe look on his face should terrify Mason, but he acts like he’s untouchable, grinning at Devlin as though saying what the hell will you do?

I can sense the anger in my future husband, feel it as though he’s hurting me already. Like I know he will once we’re married.

I won’t do it. I’ll find a way out of this on my own.

A waitress approaches us. Her sunny disposition does nothing to quell the fear breathing life within me.

“Can I get you two something to drink?”

“Just water for me.” I force my features to look anything but terrified. I don’t know if I’ve succeeded.

“And for you, sir?”

Mason grabs my hand and drags it into his own. His thumb roughly brushes my skin as he looks up at her with a smile. It’s one of those smiles that would melt a woman, but I know who he truly is.

“I would love some iced tea.” He gives a momentary look to her name tag. “Thank you, Macy.”

“Not a problem. Coming right up.”

A minute later, she’s setting the drinks before us, and we place our orders.

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