Page 5 of Elevating Eve

“I understand why you’re angry,” she said, using that Siri voice again. “But I couldn’t stand by and let you screw these people over.”

“So you decided to screw me over instead?” he demanded.

You screwed yourself over.It was right there on the tip of her tongue, but Frank was already a stick of unstable dynamite, fuse burning away. She had to proceed carefully if she wanted any chance of stopping the explosion. “My dad was an honest man. He’d turn over in his grave if he knew I didn’t speak up.”

“Your dad was an idiot.” It felt like a physical blow, right in the stomach. “His stupid fuckinghonestycost us a goddamn fortune. Or did you forget he left you nothing but debt? You should be thanking your lucky stars he died.”

“Fuck you.” She tried to dig her fingers beneath his and pry them away from her arm. “We’re done, Frank. Let go of me right the fuck now.”

He scoffed. “Oh, please. Don’t embarrass yourself.”

“We’re done,” she repeated. “I don’t ever want to see you again. Now let go of me before I scream.”

Something new entered his eyes then. Shock, quickly replaced by a severe, almost obsessive possessiveness. That scared her even more than the anger did. “You’re never leaving me.” His voice was a low, dangerous growl that made the hairs on the back of her neck stand up.

Her instincts screamed at her to acquiesce. To just agree with him until this was all over and sneak away the first safechance she got.

Her instincts could go to hell.

“That’s not up to you, asshole. And I hope they do sue you. I’d rather see my dad’s company fall apart than see it in your hands for another goddamn second.” Leaning down, she bit the fleshy part of his hand just below the thumb.

“Fuck!” Frank yelled, yanking his hand away. The instant she straightened, the back of his hand slammed into her face.

Pain exploded across her cheek, behind her eyes, in her whole fucking head.Motherfucking fuck.It felt like her skull was shrinking, squeezing her brain so much it wanted to burst.

“You fucking bitch!” Frank snarled, drawing his hand back for a slap across the other cheek.

Cowering away from him, Eve put her arms up to protect her face. But the blow never came. After a few seconds, she peeked between her forearms, and her heart skipped a beat at what she saw.

Jonathan stood behind Frank with his hand wrapped around the older man’s wrist. He bent Frank’s arm back so far, it looked like only a tiny bit more pressure would snap bone.

A new sound hit her ears, and it took her several seconds to realize it was Jonathan’s low, beautiful voice. Dropping her arms to her sides, she forced herself to focus on the sound until it changed into words—her name, repeated again and again.

“Yes?” she said, looking up into the man’s intense brown eyes.

“Do you want me to call the police?” he asked, not even blinking as he watched her.

“I—what?” Her head felt unbearably fuzzy, blocking any coherent thoughts from forming. “The police?”

At that moment, Frank tried to whip around, aiming a wild punch in the vicinity of Jonathan’s face. With a little sigh, almost like the attempt bored him, Jonathan easily blocked the punch, kicking Frank’s legs out from under him. Frank hit the ground with a loudthudthat made her wince.

“Yes, the police,” Jonathan said, kneeling down and pinning Frank’s hands behind his back. “He just assaulted you. Do you want to press charges?”

“I—I’m not—” Her mind raced. “I don’t know.”

Frank tried to buck Jonathan off his back, then gave up and half-shouted, “No, she doesn’t want you to call the fucking police. Now get the fuck off me.”

“Shut up,” Jonathan said, not even glancing down at his captive. With his free hand, he pulled an honest-to-God handkerchief from his pocket, holding it out to her. “Here. You have blood on your cheek.”

Blood?A hand flew up to her face before she could stop it, her fingertips gently prodding at the place where the heavy gold ring on Frank’s finger had collided with her cheek. She gasped at the sudden burst of additional pain and pulled her hand away. Sure enough, her fingertips glistened red.

“Thank you,” she said softly, taking the handkerchief and pressing it gently against her cheekbone.

“You ungrateful little slut!” Frank yelled, trying to twist his neck around to glare at her. “You hadnothingafter your father died. Every single thing you have is because of me, and this is how you repay me? After everything I?—”

“Enough!” Jonathan’s deeper, more powerful voice easily carried over Frank’s. “Fucking Christ. Be quiet or I’ll gag you.”

Frank made a sound of disgust. “You’d like that, wouldn’t you? You fucking perv. You get off on hitting women, but you have the fucking nerve to come at me about?—”

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