Page 44 of Indecent Villain

I close my eyes, feeling tired, sore, and so very despondent. "I'm not hungry, but thank you. I'll see you in the morning."

Whispering voices reach my ear, but I pay them no mind. Instead, I climb into bed and pull the covers over my head. I curl up into a ball and cry myself to sleep.

17

TIBERIUS

“Boss,what is going on with Kinsley? She won’t open her door,” Jock asks.

Nine stands looking out the window. I narrow my eyes and reply, “Ask Nine.”

Nine goes tense and turns slowly. “She should not have barged in!” He defends his actions. I wanted to kill him the second I saw him with Kinsley.

Jock tosses the tray of food out into the hallway. Food and cutlery crash all over the fucking newly polished floor. “What the fuck did you do?” he bellows.

Nine glances at me, which I ignore. Instead, I tell Jock, “He choked her.”

Jock growls and charges toward Nine. The man momentarily freezes, as though he can’t believe a friend is this pissed at him. Jock tackles him, sending them both crashing onto the coffee table. It buckles under their weight.

Fists fly. They curse and hurl insults at each other. Edgar runs into the room, followed by Salem and Saul.

“Break it up,” I say.

No one moves.

“Break it up!” I shout. This time, I get action. “Jock, go clean up. Everyone else, get the fuck out of my office.” Nine starts to follow. “Not you, asshole.”

Annoyed as fuck, I struggle to find words as my friend sits before me.

“You hurt her, Nine,” I growl. “Kinsley is mine. I’ve been slowly building her trust, so have the others. And now you come along and fuck it all up.”

“She’s an Edge!” He throws at me. “Why the fuck is everyone tiptoeing around that fact? I say we give her to Cannon.”

My fists clench as I slowly stand and lean over my desk. “In case you didn’t hear me, I will say it again. Kinsley is mine. I will kill anyone who harms her.”

Confused, he blinks a few times and frowns. “I’m missing something.”

“Never mind the something. I am telling you that if you touch her again, I will kill you my fucking self. Is that clear?”

“Crystal fucking clear.” He strides from the office.

I slump at my desk and rub at my aching temples.

“Beckett,” says a timid voice, “can I have a word?”

I wave Marie into the mess of my office. “What is it?”

“Please don’t be angry, no one told me it was a surprise.”

I frown and then it clicks. “You told her about the party?”

“That’s why she barged in here. She wasn’t happy about it.”

“And the day just gets better,” I mutter. “Thanks, Marie. Tell Jock I said he has to clear the mess in the hallway up.”

“He’s gathering supplies as we speak.”

I nod.

---