Page 44 of Temptation and Tyranny

He crumpled to the ground, groaning a bit while trying to get back on his feet. I took the opportunity to race towards the stairs, flying down them two at a time. I left my purse, but it didn’t matter. I could replace everything in it.

“Allegra!” Cooper’s voice rang through the large space, and it made me run faster. I slipped on the last step, catching myself quickly. Pushing the button to the elevator, I slipped inside. As the doors shut, I could see Cooper, halfway down the stairs, his leg trailing slightly behind him.

My heart was racing as I looked at the elevator panel, horrified when I remembered that it only responded to Cooper’s biometric signature.

Fuck.

A second later, the elevator doors opened.

Cooper stood there, looking directly at me.

Like he was going to murder me.

Chapter Fifteen

Cooper

I hadn’t meant to lose my control like that. I wasn’t one prone to rage. I sometimes got mouthy, but the amount of anger I felt knowing someone had tried to follow Allegra, and most likely had sinister motives, pissed me off to my very core. I’d never felt so furious, so possessive before, and I couldn’t even think straight—

Shit. I’d witnessed the same thing happen to Steele. I thought back to when I’d joked about sharing Ashlynn, and he got so angry he threw his beer glass—I remembered seeing the wild look in his eyes, and that’s when I had known that he loved Ashlynn.

But I was certain I didn’t love Allegra. I cared about her, and didn’t want to see her hurt. I’d enjoyed our passionate sex in her kitchen, but I’d enjoyed other women before.

It meant nothing. I was sure of it.

But when she’d ran from me, kicked me in the leg and tried to leave the sanctuary of my home, she’d ignited another fury that welled within me. When I saw the elevator doors close, I knew she couldn’t leave—but I was pissed that she had tried.

I stood in front of the elevator, pushed the call button, and the doors parted. She stood there, her pretty face flushed with her own anger, her hair wild and her eyes as big as saucers. I wanted to throttle her, wantedto put her in chains and lock her away so that no one—absolutely no one—could threaten her again.

But the second I saw her curl into a ball in the corner of the elevator, frightened and scared, the anger drained out of me like water out of a faucet. Tears had started in her eyes, and she shook like a leaf hanging on for dear life in an autumn breeze.

My features softened immediately, and I held out my hand to her.

She didn’t take it, but instead stared at me, her beautiful green eyes watery with unshed tears. Even though I’d frightened her, she refused to cry. She was strong, my Allegra.

“Allegra. I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to scare you.” I used the softest voice I had, the type of tone you’d use with a weakened fawn in the forest. Allegra didn’t move, still cowering in the corner, her face pressed against the wooden paneling of the elevator as if she was trying to melt into the surface.

I sighed, running my hands through my hair. I moved into the elevator, and she flinched—and my heart broke.

I didn’t want her to ever be afraid of me.

It was an odd sensation. Since taking the business over from Steele, I wanted nothing but fear and respect. I wanted to command the entire underworld, hold everyone in my own grasp and twist them to my will.

But not her. Lord help me, but not her.

I stood there for a few seconds, and she blinked, letting the first tear fall.

It broke me in a way that shocked me to my very core. In an instant I was on my knees, pullingher against my lap, stroking her hair and cooing to her like a lost dove. My leg ached and twitched, but I’d endured worse pain. Much worse. Ashlynn’s father had practically tortured me to death, and I’d held strong.

“Ma douce, please. Don’t cry. You’re killing me. I’m sorry…so sorry.”

I wasn’t sure if it was my words or just the built-up tension she must have felt, but she buried her head into my shoulder and sobbed.

“No one is going to hurt you, angel. I promise. I’ll protect you. I’ll put a security detail on you, have them watch the clinic. You can work, live your life. I’ll worry about your safety. You needn’t fear. I’m here. And I’ll take care of you.”

Her sobs soon gave way to sniffles, and then she finally pulled back from my shoulder. Her olive skin, usually so bright, was a pale, sickly white. “You won’t keep me here? You promise?”

I exhaled loudly, trying to calm my rapidly beating heart. The thought of her walking out of the doors of my compound frightened me, but I couldn’t imprison her. That might have been Steele’s deal, but I wouldn’t do that to Allegra. She had a job she loved, an apartment that was all her own, and friends. “No, sweetheart. I’d like you to stay here, just for tonight, until I can have surveillance put in place around your apartment and your work. But I promise, it will only be for tonight, and only because I’m afraid of what might happen if you leave here right now. Will you do that for me?”

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