Page 14 of Southpaw Slots

“What the actual fuck, dude? Do you have a death wish?” Asa drops my arm and grips Wyatt’s throat in his tattooed hand, thrusting his back against the nearest wall while Wyatt’s fingers struggle to reach out for me. Biting my lower lip, I don’t knowwhat to do. Do I help my boyfriend? Or my new husband?

A tiny, voiceless laugh seeps through his lips as he narrows his eyes at Ace. “She’s coming with me.”

“Um, in case you hadn’t noticed, wildcard, that’smywife, Adrianna Donovan.”

Irritation flames across my cheeks as I place my hands on my hips. “Arianna,” I correct him. Of course, he wouldn’t remember. The moment we had together must have been fleeting for him.

Asa’s head whips to me, his dazzling blue eyes wide, but his perfectly styled blond mohawk never moves. “Oh…fuck.AriannaDonovan.” He says it slowly, like it’s the first time he’s heard it. My eyes narrow at him in a warning. The wolf on his neck roars as he twists it back to Wyatt. “You heard the man up there speak. She’s my wife now. Sugar lips, hand me that gun on that table over there.” Snapping his fingers at me, he points to the pistol, waving his hand impatiently as if he’s already asked a few times. I waltz over casually, my skirts rustling and the train catching on my legs before I grip the weapon, then hold it up, and point it right at my husband’s head.

“What are you doing?” His lip sneers at me, and I take some sick pleasure in his discomfort.

“Let him go.” My hand isn’t even shaking when I make the demand. I’ve never shot a gun before and this one is heavy, but I can figure it out. Asa stares at me with bewilderment. Shaking the handle of it at him, Ifake how serious I am. He needs to know I won’t let him harm Wyatt. “He’s just trying to protect me.”

“Good girl, vix.” Wyatt says while keeping his gaze fixed on Asa. Do Iwantto shoot my new husband? No. But I will if I have to. My pulse rate climbs the longer they stare at one another.

Shoving his forearm into Wyatt’s chest, Asa leans in until their noses touch. “What’s your name, joker?”

Swallowing, Wyatt stares him down until his eyes almost disappear. It’s the same look he gave me the day I told him I had to marry Asa to save my brother. Silently, I will him to cooperate and get out alive. “Wyatt Steele.”

“Well, Wynona, you can get the fuck out of my establishment. Don’t come back unless you want your body parts shredded and disposed of in Needle River.” Asa backs up two steps and nods at me, but I continue to point the gun at his head, not trusting that he won’t try something. My muscles are tense with concern, watching the scene unfold before me.

Wyatt coughs and shakes his head. “You’re a real fucking maverick, aren’t you?” Brushing off his black T-shirt, he saunters to the door, but pauses before leaving and finds my face with his serious green eyes. “Ari, if you have trouble, you call me.” If I could melt at his words, I would.

Asa swiftly slams the door in his face, then turns to me, placing his hands on his hips as his tux jacket opens, showing off his broad chest. Thelook of him is fierce, causing me to surge with anger and some heat between my legs. “You gonna lower that gun now, sugar?” His voice is just as intoxicating as his looks.

“No. Not until you swear not to hurt him.” My bottom lip quivers.

“Who is he to you?” His eyes really are something. It’s easy to see why women must fall all over him. He’s almost too good to look at. Like blindingly beautiful, especially with this worried expression.

“He’s someone important to me.” Keeping my voice steady, I swallow to prevent the lump forming in the back of my throat from spilling out into tears.

“Break it off with him.”

My heart hurts to watch him leave my life and now be with this man on my own. A stranger. With a pout, I tell him, “I already did for this sham marriage.”

Asa’s jaw drops as he audibly gasps, his blond eyebrows stitching together. “Sosorry I saved you and your brother’s lives from Strauss. Who, by the way, will probably kill me as soon as he realizes I married you.”

Narrowing my eyes, I spit out, “The sooner the better.”How dare he?Wyatt would have loved to have married me.

“Wow. You know, I gave up a lot to do this, too. I had to say goodbye to a lot of women because your highness demanded it.” With a slight wave of his hand, he showcases the chapel behind him. “You wanted this fucking wedding, and I gave you one. Now whatelsedo you want from me, empress?”

Forgetting the gun, I lower it to my side so I can point my other finger at him, my ire unleashed. “You’re gettingpaidfrom my brother’s hard work. So don’t act like this is you being honorable,Asa.”

In three long strides, he steals toward me with his structured jaw clenched and ice in his eyes. All the fury I held within transforms to fear at his formidable form. “Don’t fucking call me that.”

He snatches the firearm out of my hand and holds it out of my reach when I try to grab it, my heavy-laden dress preventing me from moving as well as I could. “Oh?” Giving up the fight, I use my other weapons as I bat my lashes at him and purse my lips. I’ve heard what he likes, and I have all the ammunition one needs to win him over. “WhatamI allowed to call you, then? King Consort of the South? Mr. Donovan?”

“How about ‘handsome’ or ‘best sex of my life’?”

A snort escapes my nose as I take a step closer and press my breasts into his firm chest. “Sure thing,sweet cheeks. But you’re not allowed to touch me if you hurt him.”

His lips form a tense line as he stares me down, his eyes quickly dropping to my cleavage before rising again. The feel of his stare on my body makes me tingle. Ha. Got him.

“What in the world?! Mr. Donovan!” a smaller man with tortoiseshell glasses interrupts us, zooming in from the chapel door. Asa’s face holds vehemence, but he tosses the gun onto the sofa nearby. My shouldersrelax now that I know how to get the upper hand with him. “We have to get you two out of here for your safety. Who knows what Strauss will do next… The building may collapse.”

The little rodent man scurries about, pressing his glasses up his nose and waving us out a side exit door. Departing, we’re greeted by a white limousine sitting right outside. It’s equipped by a chauffeur, who holds the door open for us. When I almost trip over my long train, Asa bends and gathers up the fabric before stuffing me inside the car like he’s punching a whack-a-mole. The bottom half of my dress is now covered in dust and dirt. Flopping onto the back bench, I try to scoot all the way to the far corner before he joins me.

Neither of us spare a look at the other, and I busy my sights out the window. Things are not off to a great start and disappointment settles in my heart. I had hoped things would be different. There was a tiny dream I had that maybe he could love me, that maybe we could be like my parents, each other’s soulmates until death do us part. Tears heat my eyes as I think about it.

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