Page 13 of Love and War

“This doesn’t concern you.” Mark didn’t bother looking over at Killian.

“Does this concern the girl you’re holding?” he asked.

“I said this doesn’t concern you!” Mark swung us around until we faced Killian. Our eyes locked onto each other. I could see the rage swarming around his eyes as they traveled down to where he was holding my back against his chest.

“Well if it concerns her, it concerns me.”

“Mark, I would listen to him,” I murmured. I knew what Killian would do if Mark didn’t back down. He had always been dangerous, but now that he was involved with the mafia, I had no idea what he was capable of.

“She’s not your fucking concern!” Mark yelled.

“She’s my property.” Killian took a step forward. “Which makes her my concern,” he said, shoving his hands into his front pockets. I wanted to argue I wasn’t hisproperty.I wasn’t his, I wanted nothing to do with him. But if he got Mark away from me, I’d be “his.” Just for the time being anyway.

Marks grip tightened around my waist causing me to wince. Killian's eyes narrowed at the sight. I’ve never seen him so unhinged as he wasted no time marching towards us. Mark gasped as Killian grabbed hold of his wrist, twisting it. My body freed from his grasp. I hurried away before turning around back to them.

“She’s mine!” Killian's enraged voice should’ve scared me. But I wasn’t; he would never hurt me. Not in the way I didn’t like anyway.

I couldn’t move as I watched Killian throw Mark's body down onto the hard floors. Never giving him a chance to fight back, Killian laid punches into his side. Growling like an animal. Punching him over and over again. Mark cried, pleading for him to stop.

He was going to kill him. I didn’t care if he died, but he couldn’t do it here. And I couldn’t be the reason for his death. I didn’t need that hanging over my head.

“Killian, stop.” My voice shook. But he didn’t stop. Stepping closer I tried again, “Killian, you need to stop. Please, you’re going to kill him.” Reaching forward I laid a hand on his shoulder. Killian tensed, but his punches stopped, leaving Mark crying in pain, his body trembling.

“Why are you saving him?” he growled, letting go of Mark’s shirt. Backing away I hugged myself. I hadn’t dealt with seeing him yesterday at the sporting goods store. Or at Salem’s. The moment I left the bookstore, I could feel someone following me around town. It wasn’t until after I got coffee that I realized Zane was in the front seat. Which only meant Killian had to be with him. Zane wouldn’t just follow me around without being told to. When they went as far as following me to the sporting goods store, I lost it.

Should I have taken a baseball bat to their truck? No.

Did I care? Again, no.

Killian had no right to follow me around. I wasn’t his, not anymore.

Which is why instead of answering him I turned towards the office, not listening as Killian said something to Mark. I grabbed my keys and phone before making my way back out. Mark was no longer curled up on the floor. Instead Killian stood in the middle of the studio watching me.

“You didn’t answer me,” he growled. Ignoring him I shut the lights off and headed for the front door.

“Aziza,” he barked.

Don’t answer him. Don’t answer him. Don’t answer him.

I repeated the words over again. Killian hated being ignored. I just had to make it to my car again, just like the first night. I could make it to the car and get away from him. I knew I had to deal with this sooner rather than later. Just not right now. Right now, I needed to soak in a hot bath. My body was sore from ballet, and I didn’t need to deal with him.

“Stop fucking ignoring me!” Killian growled.

Rushing forward, I yanked the driver’s side door open, climbing inside. Killian marched towards my car. Before he could touch the door, I started it, speeding away from the curb. I would just have to come back and lock the studio door. He needed to leave.

***

I waited for an hour before he finally left my studio. I had hurried to lock it so I could catch up to him. I don’t know what caused me to think it was a good idea to follow him. I had expected him to go back to Salem’s, but instead he went to a house I’d never seen before.

What the hell?

Who the fuck lived here?

Immediately, rage coursed through my body as he parked next to another SUV. Killian stepped out of his vehicle, walked up the steps and didn’t even bother knocking. Instead he walked inside, like he’d been here before.

My body moving on impulse, I parked next to his car. Marching up the stairs, I didn’t bother with knocking either. I’d kill the bitch who lived here. Killian was mine, only mine. And he’d get fucked if he thought he could just fuck another girl.

I didn’t bother looking around. I followed the faint sound of music playing, down the hall into a large room. Killian sat at a computer desk, three monitors in front of him.

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