Page 6 of Temptation and Tyranny

“I’ll walk you. I’m Gregor, by the way.”

“Thanks, Gregor. Let me just tell my friend goodbye.” I stood up and headed back over to the bar, and I could practically feel Tomas’s stare on my back.

Joanna was engrossed in her conversation with the bartender and didn’t even notice me. I placed my hand on her shoulder and she jumped slightly, then turned to look at me. “Al, what’s wrong? You look like you’ve seen a ghost.”

I gulped. I would have preferred to see any type of specter rather than Tomas. “Tomas is here.”

Joanna’s gaze instantly left mine and searched the crowd, finding him quickly. “Al, I don’t like this…he looks like he’s been in a fight, which probably means he’s heavily intoxicated. I’ll walk you home to your apartment.”

I shook my head, the music still pounding in my ears. “No, you stay here. Gregor is going to walk me home.” I nodded to him.

Joanna sized him up quickly. He must have met whatever criteria she was looking for, because she nodded. “Okay, I’ll take a taxi home. But I want you to text me as soon as you’re safe in your apartment.”

“I will,” I promised, and then started towards the exit, Gregor behind me.

The sharp quiet of the street jolted me; the difference between the heavy bass of the club versus the hushed night of the city made me feel like I’d entered another world. It had rained while I was inside, as if the warm air of Paris couldn’t stand it any longer and demanded relief from the clouds. The ground was wet, but the moisture was quickly evaporating as humid rain usually does.

Gregor walked alongside me.

“Where do you live?”

“Just up the stree—”

Before I could finish my sentence, Tomas cut usoff. “Allegra,” he hissed, his tone so unlike his usual speech that I was instantly frightened.

“Hey, why don’t you back off?” Gregor asked, stepping in front of me. I was immediately thankful that I took him up on his offer to walk me home.

Tomas turned red, and then pulled a knife out of his pocket. I flinched, suddenly horrified at the turn of events. I could tell that Tomas was tremendously drunk, and I knew that this situation had gone from bad to deadly. Tomas wasn’t incredibly tall or muscular, but wielding a weapon definitely made him menacing.

“Shit,” Gregor cussed, and Tomas gave a grotesque smile, pleased that he’d gotten the response he wanted. He brought the knife towards Gregor.

“You better get gone,” he threatened. “Allegra is my property.”

Gregor recoiled at the sight of the knife, stumbling back several steps.

“No!” I screamed, looking around for anyone to help. But the street was quiet with no one around to notice my predicament.

“I’m going to go get help,” Gregor yelled, turning on the spot.

“Don’t leave me!” I bellowed, but it was too late; he’d already crossed back to the door and disappeared into the club. I turned my back on Tomas and instantly started to sprint, but in my panic, I’d forgotten about the curb and tripped. My knees were torn open by the rough pavement, and my palms were skinned and burning. I tried to get up, but the split-second delay was enough for Tomas to get the upper hand.

Tomas grabbed my arm and twisted it behind my back. “We’re going to go back to your apartment, andwe’ll work this out. We have a good thing, baby.”

He dragged me to the side of the building, and I fought him like crazy, but every time I moved, he tightened his grasp on my arm. I was terrified, instantly realizing the mistake I’d made.

I picked the wrong man. Apparently two months of dating wasn’t enough time to see the true monster before me. I felt a tear cascade down my cheek, and with bitter irony, I wondered who would find my body.

I couldn’t imagine that this was going to end well.

But apparently, fate had other plans. Across the alley, a loud, booming voice echoed off of the buildings.

“I don’t think the lady wants to go with you.”

I turned my head, barely able to gain traction with Tomas’s tight grasp on my hair, but I recognized the deep and husky voice almost immediately.

Cooper Moreau.

His face was a mask of collective calmness. He stood across the alley, leaning up against his expensive sports car. His hands were in the pockets of his jeans, and he was wearing a dark tee-shirt that did nothing but accentuate his muscular build. His arms were thick, the veins were practically bulging, and I knew he was a menacing sight.

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