Page 101 of Claim

Pathetic.

“But, if she wasn’t my wife, you wouldn’t give a fuck if she consented to you grabbing her like that? Like a piece of fucking meat?”

“Uh,” he stammers.

“Did your mother not teach you manners? Like when it’s acceptable to touch a woman?”

Blood trickles from his nose and he shakes his head.

I turn to Ana who seems to be fascinated by this, a little grin on her lips.

“You good, iskorka?”

She nods. “I’m better now, big man.”

I turn my attention back to this piece of shit.

“Apologize.” I tighten my grip around his neck just before I let go and his back crashes into the bar.

“I’m really sorry,” He says, looking at me.

I roll my eyes. “Not to me. To Anastasia.”

The color drains from his face as he turns to her. She doesn’t look amused.

“I’m very sorry. It won’t happen again.”

She scoffs. “Yeah right. Men like you can’t help yourselves. Fucking pigs. Probably why you’re so desperate. No girl in their right mind wants a guy like you.”

I nod and smile at her, she’ll know I approve, she reads my eyes when the mask is on.

“Can I go now?” he asks, rubbing at the red marks on his neck.

“No.” I pause, wiping the blade over my palm.

“Now I teach you a lesson on touching and consent.” I snatch his right hand, the one that touched my wife, and press it on the bar.

“See now, you will have a reminder. A scar. That will haunt you for the rest of your life and remind you not to touch without asking.”

I know the pain of the memory of a scar. This might make him think twice.

Before he can reply I stab him through the middle of the hand, hard enough the tip of the blade goes through to the wood of the bar.

He screams out in pain.

I lean in as the tears stream down his face.

“You’re lucky I didn’t cut both your fucking hands off.”

I turn my attention to Ana, and she slides her fingers through mine. I pull her tight against me and rest my head on the top of hers, inhaling her sweet scent.

“I told you, I shouldn't have worn the dress.” She hiccups against my chest.

I squeeze her tighter. I’ll make sure there isn’t a room in this world where my wife can’t walk in and feel safe.

I’ll scorch this earth of men like that asshole, not just for her but for all women.

“At least I didn’t kill him. I wanted to.”

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